At the July 11th Haverhill City Council meeting, resident Melissa Rouselle called on the Council to pass a “Right to Charge” ordinance, which would ensure that homeowners, condominium owners, and in certain cases renters would not be prohibited from installing electric charging stations for their vehicles.
Under state law, all new cars sold in Massachusetts must utilize electric or hydrogen powered fuel sources. To support this transition, Councilors agreed to explore drafting a Right to Charge law. Councilors unanimously agreed to direct the city solicitor to research similar laws that were enacted on a local level in Boston, and Cambridge and on in certain states like Oregon and Florida.
If the associated ordinance was approved on a local level, a home rule petition would need to be filed at the State House. The home rule petition would have to be read three times in the house and senate before moving to the floor for a vote. If approved on the floor, the home rule petition would be enacted into legislation after being signed by the Governor.
Updates, including future drafts of the “Right to Charge” law, would be posted on the NSR blog.
