Maryland Energy Administration: Request for Information for Costs, Barriers and Impacts Associated with Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in Multi-family Housing House Bill 830 (HB830)

To advance Maryland’s environmental objectives, the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is seeking feedback from the home contractor community, real estate developers, labor groups, and any other interested parties who wish to provide constructive feedback on how House Bill 830 (HB830) could impact stakeholders. This collaboration seeks to enhance the program’s effectiveness and ensure it maximizes the benefits for the state in pursuit of its ambitious climate and clean energy goals.

Background:
In 2022, the Climate Solutions Now Act (CSNA) for Maryland established ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets. This legislation aims to reduce GHG emissions by 60% compared to the 2006 baseline by 2031 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.¹ To meet these climate goals, Maryland must focus on electrifying its transportation sector, which presently contributes over a third of the state’s GHG emissions.²

During the 2023 legislative session, House Bill 830 (HB830) was passed and signed into law. This bill focuses on ensuring the readiness of residential construction for EV charging. It mandates that all newly constructed housing units in the state, equipped with a separate garage, carport, or driveway for each unit, must include Electric Vehicle Supply and Equipment (EVSE) EVSE-installed or EV-ready parking space. Furthermore, Section 3 of HB830 directs MEA to study the costs, barriers and impacts related to requiring new and existing multifamily residential buildings to incorporate EVSE-installed or EV-ready parking spaces. This study is vital to address the lack of EV charging infrastructure in multifamily residential buildings and support the state’s climate goals. Expanding EV charging access to this demographic is crucial for achieving equity in EV adoption and fulfilling Maryland’s clean transportation and climate objectives.

Providing feedback to these questions will assist MEA in gaining a deeper understanding of the costs, barriers and impacts associated mandating the inclusion of EVSE- installed or EV ready parking spaces in both new and pre-existing multifamily residential buildings.

Deadline for Feedback:
MEA is requesting that comments in response to this request for information be submitted via ArcGIS online (MEA EV Survey (arcgis.com)) by no later than November 1st, 2023. Respondents may respond to one or all questions below. Here are topics for which MEA is interested in receiving more information, as well as any other information that respondents feel would be beneficial for MEA to consider.

Questions:

Name of your Organization:
Please provide the name of the organization that you represent. If you are submitting as an individual, you can just note “individual” followed by your name in the space below.

About your Organization:
Please provide a brief description of your organization, if applicable. Also, describe your interest in the Multifamily EVSE deployment. If you are the owner or operator of a multi-family property, please tell us about your property including number of units, number of parking spaces, type of spaces, and if you currently offer EV charging to your renters or homeowners.

Markets and Projects:
What does MEA need to know about the current state of the market and projects involving multifamily EVSE installations, particularly in low-income, underserved, and overburdened communities?

Example questions include:

• Are developers currently installing EVSE or make- ready systems in new multifamily construction? If so, what percentage or number of EVSE spaces per total parking spaces are currently being planned for?
• What unique challenges do contractors face with these projects?
• What is the state of the market in low-income, underserved, and overburdened communities?

Barriers and Gaps:
What does MEA need to know about the barriers and gaps related to installing EVSE in multifamily developments, particularly in low income, underserved, and overburdened communities?

Example questions include:

• What are the current gaps in the market related to EVSE installations on multifamily developments?
• Are there any specific difficulties installing charging infrastructure in open air parking lots, underground parking structure, and parking garages?
• How do these barriers affect cost?
• If you are a multi-family property owner are you taking advantage of utility provided EV charging opportunities, please provide insights into why or why not?
• Have your residents expressed interest in EV charging for their units? If so how many (e.g., < 5, >5, > than 10)

Payment options:
What payment options for EV users to charge, where applicable, are recommended for charging at an EVSE-installed parking space in both new-construction and retrofitted multifamily residential buildings?

Example questions include:

• Are there any specific payment options, particularly in low-income, underserved, and overburdened communities? (Credit card, access code, cash, etc.)
• What considerations are there for including the cost of electricity as part of rent, condominium fees, or homeowner’s association fees?
•  If utilities offered (or continued to offer) dedicated EV charging rates what barriers, if any, do you face in taking advantage of those rates?

Other:
Are there any other considerations MEA should know about this effort?
How should MEA support the deployment of EVSE installations at multi-family units, particularly in low-income underserved, and overburdened communities?

¹ Legislation – SB0528 (maryland.gov)
² MDOT_MCCC_State_Agency_Report_MSAR_14367.pdf (maryland.gov)