Two non-profits have given Squamish the lowest ranking—D—in reducing GHG emissions by requiring that electric vehicle infrastructure be provided in new developments.
Plug-in Richmond and the Victoria Electric Vehicle Club ranked 45 municipalities in BC with on how well they did in asking for EV infrastructure in their zoning bylaws.
Squamish was among 15 municipalities ranked D. These were municipalities that have either no or exceptionally low EV infrastructure requirements.
Only one municipality—Saanich—was given an A for implementing bylaws that would require that new development have EV infrastructure.
To date, ten municipalities in BC with a combined population of more than 2.2 million persons have taken the proactive step of passing amendments to their zoning bylaws to provide for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in residential and, in some cases, other property uses.
Only three municipalities—News West, Langley, Vancouver—were granted a B grade, meaning they have implemented a 100 per cent requirement for residential properties but have limited requirements for other zoning designations.
“We would encourage all municipalities to consider amendments to their zoning bylaws to bring them up to current best practices,” said James Locke, President Victoria Electric Vehicle Club.
Every building which is constructed without EV infrastructure represents another costly retrofit, he said.
Both non-profits have also come up with a template that models how zoning bylaw could be amended to include EV infrastructure requirements for new developments.
