County code amended to support electric vehicle infrastructure

[Ron C]

In what is claimed to be ground breaking government in action (is that one word or two - oh, sorry, different forum for that question), Kane County Illinois has passed an amendment to the county code that codifies electric vehicle infrastructure as a strategic initiative in the county. I'm not writing their press release, they did one of those that was largely useless, I'm using my words to summarize it. I happen to live in this county, and I ran across this today while I was looking on the website for an update on some construction projects. I didn't find an update on the projects I was looking for, but I did find this.

I'd post the amendment here but it's "wordy." I will post the WHEREAS's from the board meeting and give a link to the minutes from the meeting where the code amendment is shown:

COUNTY BOARD MINUTES –February 14, 2012

RESOLUTION #12-31

AN ORDINANCE CREATING A NEW APPENDIX E OF THE KANE COUNTY CODE,
ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE ORDINANCE

WHEREAS, the Kane County Board has strived to provide leadership and guidance on
emerging topics important to the people of Kane County; and

WHEREAS, the Kane County Board recognizes the importance of supporting the use of
alternative fuel vehicles in the interest of air quality and reducing dependence on foreign oil; and

WHEREAS, the Kane County Board anticipates a growing trend in the use of electric vehicles
and the need for supporting electric vehicle infrastructure (hereinafter “EVI”); and

WHEREAS, a model ordinance for EVI can attract EVI businesses and installations to Kane
County, and encourage the purchase of a electric vehicles; and

WHEREAS, a model ordinance for EVI addresses potential zoning conflicts, offers consistent
standards and provides a framework for regionally consistent EVI; and

WHEREAS, the Kane County Board appointed an EVI Model Ordinance Task Force (hereinafter
“Task Force”) comprised of industry experts, municipal and county representatives, and special interest
groups to assist in the development of model ordinances that provide development and zoning
regulations for electric vehicle infrastructure and charging station regulations; and

WHEREAS, the Task Force has submitted model ordinances to the Kane County Board for
consideration; and

WHEREAS, the model ordinances provide development and zoning regulations and guidance
for EVI and charging station regulations; and

WHEREAS, the December 30, 2011 Illinois Electric Vehicle Advisory Council Final Report to
Pat Quinn, Governor of Illinois, and the Illinois General Assembly recognizes the passing of an EVI
ordinance by the Kane County Board as a model for local electric vehicle initiatives throughout the
nation; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Kane County Board that the Kane County Board
hereby amends the Kane County Code as follows:

Appendix E. Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

...

Here is a link to the minutes (http://www.countyofkane.org/MeetingM...2012-02-14.pdf). Go to page #688 in that document (it's not as scary as it sounds - the minutes use a cumulative running page number, and the February minutes start with page 674). The code extension is pretty extensive, actually, with pictures, diagrams, signage requirements, ....

Notwithstanding my above poke at government, I think they've done a pretty good job based on a cursory skimming of the extension. Knowing my neighbors, I suspect there's nary a Democrat on the board (I know I wouldn't vote for one), so this is a pretty good sign that broad support for EVs can be gathered once the nonsense is peeled away and real facts are presented.

[Steverino]

Very encouraging, Ron C. Perhaps others will follow Kane County's enlightened lead.