St. Louis passes EV charging station building ordinances
First city in Missouri to incorporate electric vehicle charging into building codes
St. Louis is leading the state when it comes to preparing for its transportation future. In late January, the City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen passed three bills that will empower the City of St. Louis to prepare for the growing demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging as the fleet increases across the City.
Included in the legislation is this statement: "Numerous positive benefits are an outcome of transportation electrification, such as reduced air pollution and carbon emissions, workforce development for electricians, and reduced operating costs over the lifetime of the vehicle."
"We applaud the work of Mayor Krewson, legislative sponsor Alderwoman Navarro, and the City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen for their proactive work to bring electric vehicle charging to more locations throughout the City," said Matt Forck, vice president of community, economic development, and energy solutions at Ameren Missouri. "This commitment means a healthier and more sustainable future for our region as electric vehicles can significantly improve the local air quality and reduce air pollution. Easier access to electric vehicle charging means businesses and residents can purchase EVs with confidence knowing charging infrastructure will be in place."
The EV ordinance will go into effect in January 2022. It will apply to new and major renovations of single-family, multi-family, and commercial buildings. The new law will require 5 - 10% (phase-in) of multi-family spaces and 5% of commercial spaces to be EV ready, and 2% to be Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) installed. And it will require one EV ready space per single-family home.
The City's analysis found:
An EV ordinance is critical to making cleaner vehicles more accessible to all, particularly creating more affordable charging at-home, where 80% of charging takes place.
Vehicles are a major contributor to air pollution in St. Louis, and impact more vulnerable racial and socioeconomic groups disproportionately.
By 2030, EVs are projected to reach about 10% of registered vehicles in St. Louis and could reach up to 30% of vehicles if the City is on track to reach its climate goals.
An EV ordinance adopted this year would provide about 92% of needed residential EV ready spaces, and 35% of needed installed public and workplace charging ports by 2030.
An EV ordinance can create new jobs – over the next 10 years, an estimated 7-8 full-time jobs to install EV charging stations at construction, and an additional 30-40 jobs to convert EV ready spaces to EV charging stations.
Ameren Missouri's incentive programs can help offset installation costs, with up to $5,000 available per commercial EV charging port.
Convenient access to EV charging is one of the most critical factors in people’s decisions to purchase an electric vehicle.
Parking garages and lots last for decades – and investing in EV readiness during building construction can result in 75% savings.
The City can build a resilient, future-ready St. Louis by investing in electric mobility infrastructure now.
"This legislation is historic in Missouri – the first to incorporate electric vehicle charging into building codes. It means a brighter future for everyone in our region and enables Ameren Missouri to continue building upon its commitment to clean energy and net-zero carbon emissions," said Forck.