‘Resolve, To Expand the Availability of Light-duty Zero Emission Vehicle Supply Equipment’

‘Sec. 1. Light-duty zero emission vehicle supply equipment availability expansion. Resolved: That the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection and the Governor's Energy Office, shall include in the State's beneficiary mitigation plan under the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust Agreement to receive trust funds pursuant to the Volkswagen Partial Consent Decree, which settles portions of the multidistrict litigation concerning certain Volkswagen diesel engines, a proposal to allocate 15% of funds received for light-duty zero emission vehicle supply equipment as permitted by the Volkswagen Partial Consent Decree.

As used in this resolve, "light-duty zero emission vehicle supply equipment" means level 1, level 2 or direct current fast chargers located in a place available to the public, a workplace or a multi-unit dwelling or hydrogen fuel cell supply equipment, including hydrogen dispensing equipment, that is located in a place available to the public; and be it further

Sec. 2. Grants. Resolved: That, if the State's beneficiary mitigation plan described in section 1 is approved, the portion of the funds allocated for light-duty zero emission vehicle supply equipment must be disbursed in whole or in part through grants for the installation of light-duty zero emission vehicle supply equipment. Preference must be given to proposals for grants that make light-duty zero emission vehicle supply equipment available to the public 24 hours per day and 7 days per week; locate light-duty zero emission vehicle supply equipment in or near an area where no other charging station is available, that is safe due to the presence of lighting or shelter and that is close to important regional attractions, events, facilities, transportation corridors, major thoroughfares and high-traffic areas; and commit a grant applicant to contribute the applicant's own funds to help maintain and operate the light-duty zero emission vehicle supply equipment; and be it further

Sec. 3. Program. Resolved: That the grants described in section 2 may be disbursed through a new or existing grant program. The grant program must support the installation throughout the State of publicly accessible, universally compatible light-duty zero emission vehicle supply equipment. If a new program is developed, the Department of Transportation shall consult with the Efficiency Maine Trust established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 10-C on the development of that program; and be it further

Sec. 4. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Transportation shall, by January 15, 2018, submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology describing the status of the State's beneficiary mitigation plan, the plan to use funds for a new or existing grant program and the need, if any, for legislation for a grant program. The committee may report out a bill based on this report to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature.’