Summary

This bill requires all heavy distribution warehouses of 50,000 square feet or greater that are subject to the State Energy Conservation Code Act to Install ZEV charging infrastructure.

Explanation

This bill mandates that all warehouses, subject to the State Energy Conservation Construction Code, of 50,000 square feet or greater be equipped with electric vehicle charging stations.

Distribution centers are facilities that process and deliver goods directly to customers. The facilities can generate a significant amount vehicular traffic in and out of the sites. Those vehicles emit harmful pollutants including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds – contributing greatly to the transportation emissions that make up 28% of the state’s total.

Transportation emissions not only contribute to the warming of our planet, but to poor air quality in surrounding communities. Breathing in particulate matter from heavy duty vehicles greatly increases risk for asthma, cancer, and heart problems. According to a recent report, 1 in 4 New Yorkers live within a half mile of a mega-warehouse and BIPOC and low-income populations live near warehouses at much greater rates than would be expected based on statewide demographics.

To address this issue, this legislation requires new heavy distribution centers that are new construction or undergoing alterations to install zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) charging infrastructure. This is a policy that is explicitly recommended in the Climate Action Council’s Final Scoping Plan as a method to reduce statewide transportation emissions.

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