A key bill had language allowing public utilities to enter into the electric vehicle charging industry—overlooked by the oil industry and a game-changer for EVs as it tackles one of their most formidable challenges.
"When California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 350 on Oct. 7, it looked like a huge win for the oil industry," writes Mark Hertsgaard for Bloomberg BusinessWeek. "The original version of the bill included a mandate to cut the state’s petroleum consumption 50 percent by 2030.
The oil industry, having waged a vigorous campaign against the oil reduction mandate, celebrated in their victory of having the oil language removed. However, they overlooked another provision of the bill that was aimed at the same purpose.
The law requires the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to solicit proposals from electric companies for "multiyear programs and investments to accelerate widespread transportation electrification to reduce dependence on petroleum."
Credit: Clipper Creek: Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
"The media was focused on the fight over cutting petroleum consumption by 50 percent, but this is going to do a lot of the same thing," says Laura Wisland of the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Here's why the language was a game-changer. "Until 2014, utilities were blocked from owning or operating any charging stations, a step regulators took to foster competition in the emerging market," writes Hertsgaard.
California’s three large private utilities, which were also involved in crafting the bill’s language, were pleased, too. The electric companies see a chance to grab a piece of the $55 billion the state’s drivers spend each year filling up. “We really need to have a big push for charging,” Tony Earley, chief executive officer of PG&E, said in an Oct. 15 appearance at San Francisco’s Commonwealth Club. “The charging station ought to be part of our grid infrastructure.”
The head of the Air Resources Board, and one of electric vehicles biggest boosters, Mary Nichols, "chuckles when asked why the oil companies didn’t try to block the electrification language in SB 350," notes Hertsgaard.
"Perhaps they should be asking their lobbyists that question,” she says. "I really can’t take credit for this.”
The two main parts of SB 350 were requiring utilities to generate 50 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, known as the renewable portfolio standard, and doubling energy efficiency standards in buildings by the same year.
Assisting Mark Hertsgaard in writing the article were Mark Chediak, Lynn Doan, and James Nash.
FULL STORY: Big Electric Shocks Big Oil
California Adopts One of Nation's Highest Renewable Energy Mandates
Gov. Jerry Brown signed stripped-down legislation that sets a target for the state of generating 50 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and doubling energy efficiency standards in buildings by the same year.
Tenants in Rent Controlled Buildings in California to Gain EV Charging
An exemption to an existing law was removed Monday when Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that affords tenants in rent-controlled buildings the same right to request electric vehicle charging capability as renters in unregulated apartments.
Five Key Energy Bills the California Legislature May Decide this Week
Energy stakeholders in California are watching five important bills to see which go forward with three weeks remaining in the legislative season. One would require the state to generate all electricity from renewable sources by 2045.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research