(HB2087)

GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 2087, which would permit Phase I and Phase II electric utilities to develop, own, maintain, and operate public-fast charging stations beyond a radius set by the State Corporation Commission (SCC).

Passing this bill would give explicit instruction to the SCC, effectively putting the General Assembly's thumb on the scale to allow our regulated electric utilities to participate and compete with private charging stations. Our electric utilities should not be involved in developing or owning electric vehicle charging stations and spreading those costs to ratepayers across the Commonwealth. My amendment would have protected ratepayer funds from being used to participate in a business model that should be met with a private market. Private industry continues to develop and operate charging stations, and they should be the only ones to do so.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.