San Francisco City Administrator Edwin Lee told guests at Plug In America’s benefit party last week that the City is working with all nine counties in the San Francisco Bay Area to ensure a 24-hour turn-around for electric vehicle charging station permits and inspections. (Pictured: Plug In America’s Sherry Boschert with Lee addressing party-goers.)
He and Robert Hayden, San Francisco’s Clean Transportation Adviser, explained that the goal is to enable anyone who wants to install a charging station at their home or property to get over-the-counter, same-day permits from the Department of Building Inspection. Then, once the charger is installed (by a qualified electrician), you can contact the Department of Building Inspection to get a post-installation inspection within 24 hours (weekdays) to certify that the installation meets codes and to finalize the permit.
The Bay Area governments also plan to distribute a brochure and process information to car dealerships to help smooth the way for customers to buy a plug-in vehicle and get a charger installed without delay. Lee and Hayden didn’t say so, but part of the credit for these efforts surely goes to Nissan, which has been prodding local governments to streamline and standardize EV charger permitting processes in preparation for launch of its Leaf EV later this year.
(Pictured at right: Boschert, Plug In America Managing Director Jeanne Trombly, Hayden, Lee, Plug In America President Dan Davids, and Lisa Gelfand.)
Lee and Hayden were only part of the fun at Plug In America’s benefit party, LEEDing the Charge: Efficient Vehicles and Buildings, which also served as the launch party for our new consumer resource guide, Charged Up & Ready To Roll: The Definitive Guide To Plug-in Electric Vehicles.
Hosted by sustainable architects Gelfand Partners Architects, the party drew more than 120 happy guests and raised more than $3,300 to support Plug In America’s work.
Guests were greeted by slideshows of photos from our Plug-in Vehicle Tracker, displayed on computer monitors throughout the building.
Gelfand Partners Architects designs sustainable schools, affordable housing, and other projects; founder Lisa Gelfand explained to guests why she’s such a big fan of efficient plug-in vehicles: “I can get a school off the grid completely — design it so that none of its energy comes from the electric grid — but still, half of its energy consumption would remain in the form of transporting the kids and teachers to and from school” in gasoline and diesel vehicles. (Pictured at right: Boschert and Gelfand)
To make the point, a plug-in hybrid school bus parked outside the building invited guests to come aboard, courtesy of Ralph Knight and Vince Meyer of Napa Valley Unified School District.
Plug In America interns Derek Fletcher (pictured, left) and Jon Hellam (right) assisted guests who purchased print copies of Charged Up & Ready To Roll, and guests went home with a party gift: a flash drive with a digital copy of the new resource guide.
In fact, all Plug In America members will receive a digital copy — if you’re not a member yet (for as little as $25), click the “Join” button on this blog to get your copy and support Plug In America’s drive to accelerate the shift to electrification of transportation.
— Sherry Boschert
Photos courtesy of Gelfand Partners Architects.
