Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, R-Jamestown, speaks about electric vehicle policies on the Assembly floor recently.

A legislative effort to require NYSERDA to develop a comprehensive electric vehicle fast charging station plan will likely wait until next year.

The state Assembly passed a bill requiring the plan during the waning days of the legislative session in a 142-6 vote, with Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, R-Jamestown, and Assemblyman Joe Giglio, R-Gowanda, voting in favor of the legislation. Goodell said the planning for fast charging infrastructure is necessary, but he cautioned Assembly members not to have a one-track mind when it comes to transportation.

“I would raise one other issue I think that we in the Assembly ought to be sensitive to. We refer to ourselves as the people’s house, but we need to be sensitive to the fact that electric vehicles, a new electric vehicle, is very expensive, and in fact that price is out of reach for many of our working class families. It’s just too expensive. Maybe that price will come down, and I hope it will, but right now it’s very, very expensive vehicle. And the problem is if you go to but a used electric car the batteries have a limited life expectancy and those batteries are extraordinarily expensive. So I don’t want to see New York state run headlong into a process that results in having our rural working class families being knocked out in terms of being able to afford regular and routine transportation. We need to be sensitive to be sure we’re not acting in a wealthy, elitist attitude when it comes to electric vehicles and that we recognize that as we make this transition we still need lower cost fossil fuel vehicles that are affordable for those who are on modest incomes and are working for a living.”

It is likely A.10100, sponsored by Assemblyman Steve Englebright, D-Setauket, will make a return visit to the Assembly floor next year after not finding approval in the state Senate this year.

Englebright proposed giving the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), in consultation with the New York Power Authority, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Public Service and the Fast Charge NY working group six months to come up with a comprehensive electric vehicle fast charging station implementation plan. NYSERDA would establish the Fast Charge NY working group consisting of five members, including one member from each of the following: statewide municipal organizations, environmental justice groups, statewide environmental groups, public utilities and charging station developers. Three members would be appointed by the governor, one member by the temporary president of the Senate and one member by the speaker of the Assembly.

Once completed, the plan would be updated each year.

“To achieve the ambitious goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, we must continue to support the transition to electric vehicles,” Englebright wrote in his legislative justification. “Each year at an increasing rate, drivers are transitioning from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric vehicles. To support this change, it is critical we take steps now to ensure that fast charging stations are readily available. This bill will ensure that we facilitate the deployment of electric vehicle chargers.”