On Monday Nov. 11, ASUU Assembly Rep. Mark Pittman and ASUU president Sam Ortiz met with director of Commuter Services Alma Allred to address concerns over an ASUU bill proposing to install electric car chargers in six parking lots around the U.
“The cost of the bill was significantly reduced by $15,000, and now parking services is directly involved — which was not the case before meeting with Mr. Allred,” Ortiz said.
Pittman negotiated with Allred to amend the bill to request half of the funding from ASUU and have Commuter Services fund the other half, which will decrease the bill’s requested amount from $25,000 to $10,000. The amended bill will also fund four charging stations rather than the previously requested six.
“I think this is a good decision that will help us evaluate the need for car charging in the future,” Allred said. “I think this is a good start that shows that ASUU has a desire to promote a sustainable campus.”
These charging stations will be installed in university housing and under the amended bill, the charging stations will also have a lower voltage than was proposed. Pittman said placing the lower voltage stations in student housing make sense because it will take six to 10 hours to get a full charge.
“I’m happy with the results and I think politically it is the most feasible,” Pittman said. “We’re happy they met us halfway.”
Pittman also said there have been discussions with Commuter Services to install electric car charging outlets in the new parking garages that are being constructed on campus. He said these chargers would most likely be 110 volts as well.
The bill was pulled from the docket at the last minute before the October Assembly meeting by Pittman, the bill’s author, because of concerns over the bill. The two main issues were the cost as well as the lack of involvement from parking services in the matter.
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