Central Saanich is finding a way to charge more electric cars.

In a joint motion, King and Windsor stated they wanted Central Saanich staff to provide options for a community-wide electric vehicle charging strategy which would consider public and private charging infrastructure in new developments and explore incentives for retrofitting existing buildings. The District received provincial funding for Level 2 charging stations at Central Saanich Municipal Hall and the Cultural Centre in Brentwood Bay, but they charge at a slower speed than Level 3 chargers, for which King has lobbied.

Councillor Zeb King and Mayor Ryan Windsor both noted they asked District staff last month to look into the idea as well. King said he felt that by doing similar work at the same time, they could co-operate.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 an opportune time for Central Saanich council to perhaps liaise with Saanich council on this to gather similar information,B次元官网网址� said King.

Coun. Niall Paltiel was in support, and highlighted that businesses would be involved in building some of this infrastructure so the taxpayers would not have to fund all of it necessarily.

Coun. Alicia Holman was supportive of the sentiment, if not the motion. She wondered how the motion might tie in with broader goals on sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions. King said while it did not directly tie in with those goals, it was more of a practical consideration.

B次元官网网址淲e address development proposals every other week, and I think itB次元官网网址檚 wise for our municipality to develop a strategy,B次元官网网址� said King, noting the District of Saanich was doing similar work and there B次元官网网址渕ay be economies of scale, sort ofB次元官网网址� by sharing some information, even though they were not formally working as one unit.

Holman appreciated that electric cars were becoming more popular, but was ultimately not supportive, because she felt it was B次元官网网址渘ot the priority for Central Saanich,B次元官网网址� instead preferring to focus staff time and money on improving other areas like transit, rainwater collection or walkability which she felt would have more impact.

Windsor said that if expectations remained realistic, the District could accomplish this as well as other works. He also said all the graphs he had seen showed a sharp increase in electric vehicle adoption after 2020, which he said was B次元官网网址渋mminent.B次元官网网址�

The item passed with Holman in opposition.

reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com
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