Galesburg Reporter

Illinois State Representative Travis Weaver (R) decried the state government's attempts to make homebuilders add electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to future homes in a Facebook post published on Tuesday.

"Illinois' government is notorious for wasteful spending, and now they're trying to push their habits onto home builders and buyers," Weaver wrote. "While only 0.1% of vehicles in downstate Illinois are electric, our state government is trying to force 100% of home builders to increase construction costs by including electric vehicle conduits. This is an unnecessary cost for 99.9% of consumers and is something I'm actively fighting to stop. Aren't costs already high enough in Illinois? We don't need unnecessary, wasteful costs that only drive home prices up further."

Senate Bill 40, introduced by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D), will create the "Electric Vehicle Charging Act" according to its official synopsis.

"Provides that the Act applies to new single-family homes and newly constructed or renovated multi-unit residential buildings that have parking spaces and are constructed or renovated after the effective date of the Act," the synopsis continues. "Defines terms. Provides that a new single-family residence or a small multifamily residence shall have at least one electric vehicle capable parking space for each residential unit that has dedicated parking unless any subsequently adopted building code requires additional electric vehicle capable parking spaces or installed electric vehicle supply equipment. Includes electric vehicle parking space requirements for a new, large multifamily residential building or a large multifamily residential building being renovated by a developer converting the property to an association."

According to Repair Driven News, Illinois is currently working to introduce more EVs to the state. Through the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles (REV) Act, the government is incentivizing manufacturers in the clean jobs economy to support the EV and renewable supply chains. Illinois' goal is to have one million EVs on its roads by 2030 and reach 100% clean energy by 2050. While the proposed legislation plans for the increased goal, many state residents have their concerns, with Home Builders Association of Illinois member Dean Graven saying it will only exacerbate the affordable housing crisis.

“This is a mandate with no funding behind it, a mandate that every new house, single-family duplex, then it gets into the multi-family, would have to have electric car charging stations,” Graven said. “For every $1,000 price increase on a home, you knock out 6,000 buyers.”