Congress Passes Bill Allowing Electric Car Charging Stations on Capitol Hill

Congress has sent a bill to President Barack Obama’s desk to allow the Capitol building to construct charging stations for electric vehicles in Congressional parking lots. 

The Hill reports that the bill was introduced by Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI, pictured above) — and backed by many in Michigan’s delegation — and would require construction at no net cost to the government. Users would have to pay a fee to charge their electric vehicles, which would go towards paying for installation and maintenance of the charging stations. The bill passed in the Senate on Thursday by unanimous consent after it passed in the House earlier in the day and now heads to Obama’s desk to be signed.

“I am extremely pleased that we have taken this important step toward establishing charging stations in the Capitol,” Kildee said. “This bill will make owning electric vehicles more accessible for consumers and encourages others to install charging stations.”