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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5485
February Session, 2024
AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section, (1) 1
"electric distribution company" has the same meaning as provided in 2
section 16-1 of the general statutes; (2) "battery electric vehicle", "fuel cell 3
electric vehicle", "plug-in hybrid electric vehicle" and "range-extended 4
battery electric vehicle" have the same meanings as provided in section 5
16-19eee of the general statutes; (3) "electric vehicle charging station" has 6
the same meaning as provided in section 16-19f of the general statutes; 7
(4) "environmental justice community" has the same meaning as 8
provided in subsection (a) of section 22a-20a of the general statutes; (5) 9
"level two electric vehicle charging station" and "direct current fast 10
charging station" have the same meanings as provided in section 4b-77 11
of the general statutes; and (6) "housing authority" has the same 12
meaning as provided in section 8-39 of the general statutes. 13
(b) There is established an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure 14
Coordinating Council, to assess and report on strategies and plans 15
necessary to ensure the affordable, equitable, accessible and reliable 16
integration of battery electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, plug-in 17
hybrid electric vehicles and range-extended battery electric vehicles into 18
the state's transportation network. The council shall be part of the 19
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for administrative 20 Substitute Bill No. 5485
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purposes only. The council shall consist of the following forty members: 21
(1) Four appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; 22
(2) Four appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; 23
(3) Three appointed by the majority leader of the House of 24
Representatives, one of whom is recommended by the Connecticut 25
Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council, established by 26
Executive Order 21-3 of Governor Ned Lamont, one of whom is 27
recommended by a nonprofit association or organization representing 28
the interests of motor vehicle dealers in this state and one of whom 29
represents a business that utilizes heavy-duty motor vehicles for its 30
operations; 31
(4) Three appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one of whom 32
represents an organization that advocates for the protection of the 33
environment, one of whom represents an organization that advocates 34
for electric municipal utilities and one of whom represents a 35
manufacturer of battery electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, plug-36
in hybrid electric vehicles or range-extended battery electric vehicles; 37
(5) Three appointed by the minority leader of the House of 38
Representatives, one of whom is recommended by an organization 39
representing the interests of large municipalities, one of whom 40
represents an electric distribution company that has a service area of 41
eighteen or more cities and towns and one of whom represents a 42
professional organization of physicians in the state; 43
(6) Three appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one of 44
whom represents an electric distribution company that has a service 45
area of not more than seventeen cities and towns, one of whom 46
represents a manufacturer of electric vehicle charging stations and one 47
of whom is recommended by an organization representing the interests 48
of small municipalities; 49
(7) The chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing 50 Substitute Bill No. 5485
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committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 51
relating to transportation, the environment and energy; and 52
(8) The Commissioners of Energy and Environmental Protection, 53
Transportation, Administrative Services, Consumer Protection and 54
Public Health, or their designees, the Secretary of the Office of Policy 55
and Management, or the secretary's designee, the chairperson of the 56
Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, or the chairperson's designee, and 57
the Consumer Counsel, or the counsel's designee. 58
(c) Any member of the council appointed under subdivisions (1) to 59
(6), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the 60
General Assembly. 61
(d) All initial appointments to the council shall be made not later than 62
June 1, 2024, and shall terminate on May 31, 2026, regardless of when 63
the initial appointment was made. Any vacancy shall be filled by the 64
appointing authority. Each appointed member shall serve for a term of 65
two years and may be reappointed or continue to serve until such 66
member's successor is appointed. 67
(e) The council shall have three chairpersons. Notwithstanding the 68
provisions of section 4-9a of the general statutes, the speaker of the 69
House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate 70
shall select two chairpersons of the council from among the members of 71
the council. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection 72
shall serve as the third chairperson. The three chairpersons shall 73
schedule the first meeting of the council, which shall be held not later 74
than July 1, 2024. 75
(f) A majority of the membership of the council shall constitute a 76
quorum for the purpose of meeting to review and assess the draft Zero-77
Emission Vehicle Roadmap submitted in accordance with the 78
provisions of subsection (j) of this section, or for any vote taken by the 79
council. 80
(g) The council shall: 81 Substitute Bill No. 5485
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(1) Provide direction on the scope of the draft Zero-Emission Vehicle 82
Roadmap described in subsection (j) of this section; 83
(2) Hold informational meetings to solicit input from stakeholders on 84
the benefits and impacts of the integration of battery electric vehicles, 85
fuel cell electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and range-86
extended battery electric vehicles into the state's transportation 87
network; 88
(3) Recommend modifications related to the draft Zero-Emission 89
Vehicle Roadmap submitted pursuant to subsection (j) of this section 90
and each draft update to the Zero-Emission Vehicle Roadmap submitted 91
pursuant to subsection (l) of this section; 92
(4) Hold public hearings, including one hearing after November 15, 93
2024, but prior to January 8, 2025, regarding the draft Zero-Emission 94
Vehicle Roadmap submitted pursuant to subsection (j) of this section, 95
and not less than one hearing on each draft update to the Zero-Emission 96
Vehicle Roadmap submitted pursuant to subsection (l) of this section; 97
and 98
(5) Obtain from any executive department, board, commission or 99
other agency of the state such assistance and data as necessary and 100
available to carry out the purposes of this section, within available 101
resources and subject to the limitations of any pending adjudicatory 102
proceeding before any such agency. 103
(h) The members of the council shall serve without compensation. 104
(i) The council shall meet at least once every two months, or at such 105
other times as deemed necessary by the chairpersons or a majority of the 106
council, and shall provide the opportunity for public comment at each 107
such meeting. 108
(j) Not later than November 15, 2024, the Commissioners of Energy 109
and Environmental Protection and Transportation and the chairperson 110
of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, in coordination with the 111 Substitute Bill No. 5485
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Commissioners of Administrative Services, Consumer Protection and 112
Public Health, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and 113
the Consumer Counsel, shall submit a draft Zero-Emission Vehicle 114
Roadmap to the council. Such draft roadmap shall: 115
(1) Analyze the benefits and costs associated with the usage of light, 116
medium and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles, including, but not 117
limited to, the impacts to public health, air quality and consumers and 118
the attainment of the greenhouse gas emission reductions required by 119
section 22a-200a of the general statutes; 120
(2) Identify the number of battery electric vehicles, fuel cell electric 121
vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and range-extended battery 122
electric vehicles registered in the state; 123
(3) Estimate the number of battery electric vehicles, fuel cell electric 124
vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and range-extended battery 125
electric vehicles to be sold and registered in the state for the year of the 126
report and the next ten succeeding years based, in part, on the 127
attainment of the emission reductions required by section 22a-200a of 128
the general statutes; 129
(4) Estimate the number and type of electric vehicle charging stations 130
needed to support the estimated number of battery electric vehicles, fuel 131
cell electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and range-132
extended battery electric vehicles in public and private sector settings, 133
including, but not limited to, transit facilities and parking facilities at 134
commercial and industrial properties and one-family, two-family or 135
multifamily residential dwellings; 136
(5) Make recommendations concerning how to assist any 137
governmental unit or the private sector in installing electric vehicle 138
charging stations and the associated charging infrastructure, equipment 139
and technology, including within proximity of on-street parking; 140
(6) Identify strategies, including non-ratepayer-funded strategies, to 141
ensure the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in urban, 142 Substitute Bill No. 5485
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suburban and rural areas, including, but not limited to, low-income and 143
moderate-income communities; 144
(7) Recommend strategies for ensuring electric vehicle charging 145
stations are maintained in full and continuous working order; 146
(8) Report on the adequacy of electric transmission and generation 147
supply and storage infrastructure to serve the electric vehicle charging 148
needed to support the number of battery electric vehicles, fuel cell 149
electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and range-extended 150
battery electric vehicles estimated pursuant to subdivision (2) of this 151
subsection; 152
(9) (A) Identify the cost trends associated with the purchase of a new 153
battery electric vehicle, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, fuel cell electric 154
vehicle or range-extended battery electric vehicle using the 155
manufacturer's suggested retail price, (B) identify and evaluate the cost 156
impact of applicable existing and future state and federal incentives, and 157
(C) identify the cost trends for the purchase of a new or used motor 158
vehicle operated by an internal combustion engine as applicable state 159
and federal motor vehicle emission laws become effective; 160
(10) Using information from the preceding calendar year, (A) identify 161
trends regarding the adoption and distribution of battery electric 162
vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in 163
the state using information from the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric 164
Automobile Purchase Rebate program established pursuant to section 165
22a-202 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, and (B) include 166
information regarding the availability and equitable distribution of 167
rebates and vouchers issued by the Commissioner of Energy and 168
Environmental Protection under said program among residents of 169
differing socioeconomic status; 170
(11) Include any other assessments or information that promote the 171
utilization of battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, 172
fuel cell electric vehicles or range-extended battery electric vehicles in 173
the state; 174 Substitute Bill No. 5485
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(12) Provide information describing the implementation of the 175
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program pursuant to 176
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, P.L. 117-58, as amended 177
from time to time, and the status and results of such program; 178
(13) Determine the impact of electrification on bus service in the state 179
by identifying (A) the purchase and operating costs for battery electric 180
buses, (B) the level of funding needed for the deployment of battery 181
electric buses, (C) the service territory of battery electric buses currently 182
in operation, and (D) battery electric bus service in low-income and 183
moderate-income communities; 184
(14) (A) Summarize each electric distribution company's progress 185
toward meeting state-wide deployment targets established by the 186
Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for direct current fast charging 187
stations and level two electric vehicle charging stations, (B) identify the 188
percentage of direct current fast charging stations and level two electric 189
vehicle charging stations installed in environmental justice communities 190
and for housing owned or managed by a housing authority, (C) describe 191
the methodology that electric distribution companies use to track how 192
electric vehicle charging infrastructure facilitates the deployment of 193
battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, fuel cell electric 194
vehicles and range-extended battery electric vehicles throughout the 195
state, (D) provide aggregated results of the charging programs managed 196
by the electric distribution companies that are designed to integrate and 197
optimize electric vehicle charging onto the electric distribution system, 198
and (E) identify the available electric vehicle tariff offerings by customer 199
class, charger type and service territory; and 200
(15) Address other topics or include other information as requested 201
by the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council. 202
(k) Not later than January 8, 2025, the Commissioner of Energy and 203
Environmental Protection shall submit, in accordance with the 204
provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, the final Zero-205
Emission Vehicle Roadmap to the joint standing committees of the 206 Substitute Bill No. 5485
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General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 207
transportation, the environment and energy. Such final roadmap shall 208
include the information specified in subdivisions (1) to (15), inclusive, 209
of subsection (j) of this section. The commissioner shall publish such 210
final roadmap on the Internet web site of the Department of Energy and 211
Environmental Protection. 212
(l) Not later than November 15, 2025, and annually thereafter, the 213
Commissioners of Energy and Environmental Protection and 214
Transportation and the chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory 215
Authority, in coordination with the Commissioners of Administrative 216
Services, Consumer Protection and Public Health, the Secretary of the 217
Office of Policy and Management and the Consumer Counsel, shall 218
submit a draft update to the Zero-Emission Vehicle Roadmap to the 219
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council. 220
(m) Not later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the 221
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall submit, in 222
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 223
the most recent final update to the Zero-Emission Vehicle Roadmap to 224
the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 225
cognizance of matters relating to transportation, the environment and 226
energy. The commissioner shall publish each such final update to the 227
roadmap on the Internet web site of the Department of Energy and 228
Environmental Protection. 229
(n) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the adoption 230
of zero-emission vehicle standards. 231
Sec. 2. Subsections (d) to (g), inclusive, of section 22a-202 of the 2024 232
supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is 233
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 234
(d) On and after July 1, 2022, the Commissioner of Energy and 235
Environmental Protection shall establish and administer a program to 236
provide rebates or vouchers to residents, municipalities, businesses, 237
nonprofit organizations and tribal entities located in this state when 238 Substitute Bill No. 5485
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such residents, municipalities, businesses, organizations or tribal 239
entities purchase or lease a new or used battery electric vehicle, plug-in 240
hybrid electric vehicle or fuel cell electric vehicle. The commissioner, in 241
consultation with the advisory board, shall establish and revise, as 242
necessary, appropriate rebate levels, voucher amounts and maximum 243
income eligibility for such rebates or vouchers. The program shall have 244
a goal of distributing, by January 1, 2030, at least forty per cent of the 245
funds used for any such rebates or vouchers to a United State census 246
block group, as determined in accordance with the most recent United 247
States census, for which thirty per cent or more of the population 248
consists of persons who have an income below two hundred per cent of 249
the federal poverty level. The commissioner shall prioritize the granting 250
of rebates or vouchers to residents of environmental justice 251
communities, [residents having] who have household incomes at or 252
below three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level [and residents] 253
or who participate in state and federal assistance programs, including, 254
but not limited to, the state-administered federal Supplemental 255
Nutrition Assistance Program, state-administered federal Low Income 256
Home Energy Assistance Program, a Head Start program established 257
pursuant to section 10-16n or assistance provided by Operation Fuel, 258
Incorporated. Any such rebate or voucher awarded to a resident of an 259
environmental justice community shall be in an amount [up to one 260
hundred] not less than two hundred per cent more than the standard 261
rebate level or voucher amount. An eligible municipality, business, 262
nonprofit organization or tribal entity may receive not more than ten 263
rebates or vouchers a year, within available funds, and not more than a 264
total of twenty rebates or vouchers, except the commissioner may issue 265
additional rebates or vouchers to an eligible business or nonprofit 266
organization that operates a fleet of motor vehicles exclusively in an 267
environmental justice community. On and after July 1, 2022, and until 268
June 30, 2027, inclusive, a battery electric vehicle, plug-in hybrid electric 269
vehicle or fuel cell electric vehicle that is eligible for a rebate or voucher 270
under the program shall have a base manufacturer's suggested retail 271
price of not more than fifty thousand dollars. 272 Substitute Bill No. 5485
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(e) As a part of the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile 273
Purchase Rebate program, the Commissioner of Energy and 274
Environmental Protection shall also establish and administer a program 275
to provide rebates or vouchers to residents of the state who purchase an 276
electric bicycle. The commissioner, in consultation with the advisory 277
board, shall establish and revise, as necessary, maximum income 278
eligibility for such rebates or vouchers. Any such rebate or voucher 279
amount shall be in an amount not less than five hundred dollars. The 280
rebate or voucher program shall be designed to maximize the air quality 281
benefits associated with the deployment of electric bicycles and 282
prioritize providing vouchers to residents of environmental justice 283
communities, [residents having] who have household incomes at or 284
below three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level [, and 285
residents] or who participate in state and federal assistance programs, 286
including, but not limited to, the state-administered federal 287
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, state-administered federal 288
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a Head Start program 289
established pursuant to section 10-16 or assistance provided by 290
Operation Fuel, Incorporated. On and after July 1, 2022, and until June 291
30, 2027, inclusive, an electric bicycle that is eligible for a rebate or 292
voucher under the program shall have a base manufacturer's suggested 293
retail price of not more than three thousand dollars. Not less than sixty 294
days prior to distributing any rebate or voucher pursuant to this 295
subsection, the commissioner shall conduct an outreach and marketing 296
campaign pursuant to subsection (g) of this section. 297
(f) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall 298
evaluate the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase 299
Rebate program on an annual basis. Not later than June 20, 2024, and 300
annually thereafter, the commissioner shall submit a report to the joint 301
standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 302
matters relating to the environment and transportation regarding the 303
status and effectiveness of such program. Such report shall include 304
information on program participation and the environmental benefits 305
accruing to environmental justice communities and communities 306 Substitute Bill No. 5485
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overburdened by air pollution. 307
(g) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall 308
conduct outreach programs and implement a marketing campaign for 309
the promotion of the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile 310
Purchase Rebate program. Such marketing campaign shall target 311
environmental justice communities, be conducted in languages in 312
addition to English and involve community-based organizations that 313
serve environmental justice communities. 314
Sec. 3. (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For the purposes described in 315
subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the 316
power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state 317
in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the 318
aggregate ten million dollars. 319
(b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount 320
stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department 321
of Energy and Environmental Protection for the purpose of (1) 322
providing grants to municipal electric utilities for the installation of 323
electric vehicle charging infrastructure located in environmental justice 324
communities, as defined in subsection (a) of section 22a-20a of the 325
general statutes, within the service area of such utility, (2) providing 326
incentives and rebates for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, 327
as those terms are defined in section 16-19eee of the general statutes, and 328
for the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and (3) 329
providing incentives for the installation of electric vehicle charging 330
infrastructure in public rights-of-way. 331
(c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise 332
of any right or power granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the 333
provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all 334
bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this 335
section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived 336
from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in 337
accordance with section 3-20 of the general statutes and from time to 338 Substitute Bill No. 5485
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time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not 339
exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided 340
in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond 341
Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall be 342
authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that 343
there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is signed 344
by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 345
and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its 346
discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall 347
be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state 348
of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and 349
interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as 350
part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, 351
appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such 352
principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay 353
such principal and interest as the same become due. 354
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this 355
section, "electric distribution company" has the same meaning as 356
provided in section 16-1 of the general statutes and "level 2 charger" has 357
the same meaning as "AC Level 2" in 23 CFR 680.104, as amended from 358
time to time. 359
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of title 16 or 16a of the general 360
statutes, an electric distribution company shall charge a customer for the 361
provision of electricity to such customer's separately metered level 2 362
charger at the same rate that such company charges residential 363
customers, provided such charger is (1) available for residential use, and 364
(2) located in either a (A) multifamily residential building, or (B) 365
multiuse building if residential use constitutes fifty per cent or more of 366
the metered energy for such building. 367
Sec. 5. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Transportation 368
shall study and make recommendations concerning the feasibility of 369
expanding mobility options in rural communities. Such study and 370
recommendations shall take into consideration (1) the cost of operation 371 Substitute Bill No. 5485
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and maintenance, including new or additional transit services, (2) the 372
size and availability of currently utilized vehicles and compatibility 373
with rural operations, (3) the viability of operating sustained transit 374
services to any such rural communities, including the availability of 375
operators and maintenance capacity, and (4) best practices from other 376
rural communities in the country. Not later than July 1, 2026, the 377
commissioner shall submit the results of such study and the 378
commissioner's recommendations, in accordance with the provisions of 379
section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of 380
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 381
transportation. 382
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 from passage New section
Sec. 2 from passage 22a-202(d) to (g)
Sec. 3 July 1, 2024 New section
Sec. 4 from passage New section
Sec. 5 from passage New section
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 1(d), "June 1, 2026" was changed to "May 31, 2026" for
consistency with standard drafting conventions; in Section 1(e), "a" was
changed to "the third" for clarity; in Section 1(g), "roadmap" was
changed to "Zero-Emission Vehicle Roadmap" for consistency; in
Section 1(j)(1) "greenhouse gas" was added for consistency; in Section
1(j)(5), ", any public agency" was deleted to eliminate redundancy; in
Section 1(j)(12), "pursuant to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,
P.L. 117-58, as amended from time to time," was inserted for clarity; in
Section 1(m), "most recent" was inserted for accuracy; in Section 4(a) , a
reference to "AC Level 2" was added for accuracy; and in Section 5(1)
and (3), "transit" was added for clarity.
TRA Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO