New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos announced the release of a draft amendment to the 1990 final campground and day-use area generic unit management plan for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. DEC invites the public to comment on the draft amendment, which will guide siting, construction, and management of EV charging stations at DEC campgrounds and day-use areas. DEC will consider all public comments before it finalizes the amendment. The comment period runs through Sept. 30.
Seggos said, "Emissions from the transportation sector are the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in New York. As part of the state's comprehensive efforts to reduce this pollution, EV infrastructure must be accessible to New Yorkers and visitors alike. Adding EV charging stations to DEC campgrounds and day-use areas will increase and expand New York's capacity to support more electric vehicles on the road while reducing harmful transportation emissions and making green travel easier for New Yorkers in the North Country. Gov. Cuomo has made New York state a global leader in the fight to combat climate change and this is the latest example of his commitment."
The addition of EV charging stations at DEC campgrounds and day-use areas will help further the governor's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ramp up renewable energy sources. New York is making robust investments in clean vehicles and infrastructure, including municipal rebates that are putting more electric vehicles on the road and electric charging stations in more locations across the state, including Evolve NY, the $250 million electric vehicle expansion initiative with the New York Power Authority. EVolve NY is a key pillar of the governor's "Charge NY 2.0" initiative, which aims to encourage and support electric car adoption by increasing the number of charging stations statewide and will help bring the state closer to its goal of installing at least 10,000 charging stations by the end of 2021.
New York has a history of delivering affordable and accessible EV initiatives and infrastructure throughout the state. NYPA is currently installing 400 public chargers at airports, train stations and municipal parking lots and, as recently announced, high-speed chargers have been installed on the New York State Thruway, with more planned for the remaining 23 service areas between New York City and Buffalo. NYPA has also partnered with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and ConEd to bring electric buses to New York City.
This announcement also supports the state's implementation of the Zero Emission Vehicle Action Plan adopted in 2014, in which nine states now participate. Additionally, in March 2017, Gov. Cuomo launched the state's "Drive Clean Rebate" program. Administered by NYSERDA, the program provides residents with a rebate of up to $2,000 for the purchase or lease of a new plug-in hybrid or battery electric car from participating new car dealers. This initiative played a central role in incentivizing the purchase of more than 10,000 electric cars in 2017, a 67 percent increase over 2016.
DEC manages 51 campgrounds in the Adirondack and Catskill parks with more than 1 million camper nights each season. The campgrounds and five special use areas at Lake George Beach, Prospect Mountain Highway, Hinckley Reservoir Picnic Area, Fourth Lake Picnic Area and Lake George Battlefield Picnic Area also receive nearly 400,000 day-use visitors annually.
