Lafayette could strengthen solar, EV requirements for new construction

LAFAYETTE — Builders of residential and commercial projects in Lafayette may soon have a higher bar to clear in terms of the solar and electric-vehicle-related elements required for new developments and major renovations. 

The Lafayette City Council is set Thursday for the first reading of a measure that would require certain solar-ready PV and electrical-vehicle-ready improvements for nearly all project types. 

The PV (an industry abbreviation for photovoltaic solar cells) requirements include: 

• Reservation of space on the roof of buildings for future solar-panel installation.
• Installation of conduit from the solar-ready zone to the electrical control panel.
• Reservation in the electrical control panel for a dual-pole circuit breaker.
• Labeling of the PV-ready provisions near or on the electrical control panels.

For multi-family and non-residential projects five stories or less, the following are also required:

• Minimum roof load capacities.
• Reservation of space for battery storage systems.

Certain exceptions could be made for projects with on-site renewable-energy systems or buildings where the solar-ready zone is shaded for more than 70% of the time. 

In anticipation of a near-term increase in electric-vehicle usage, the city is also looking at ways to prepare future buildings for these new types of transportation.

The proposed building-code amendment contemplates three EV infrastructure levels:

• EV-capable: A designated parking space that is provided with conduit sized for a 40-amp, 208/240-Volt dedicated branch circuit from a building electrical panelboard to the parking space and with sufficient physical space in the same building electrical panelboard to accommodate a 40-amp, dual-pole circuit breaker.
• EV-ready: A designated parking space provided with one 40-amp, 208/240-Volt dedicated branch circuit for electric vehicle supply equipment that is terminated at a receptacle, junction box or electric-vehicle supply equipment within the parking space. 
• EV-installed: A parking space installed with a Level 2 or 3 EV charging station.

The ordinance being introduced this week would require:

For single-, two-family dwellings and townhouses: 

• For each dwelling unit, at least one EV-ready space except when no parking is required or provided.

Multi-family dwellings:

• EV-capable spaces: 20% of spaces provided.
• EV-ready spaces: two spaces or 10%, whichever is greater.

Commercial projects: Required for both new build and major commercial alterations or modification of 10 or more parking spaces or when parking spaces are added without an increase in building size. Only new parking spaces are subject to the requirement.

• EV-capable spaces: 10% of spaces provided.
• EV-ready spaces: 5% of spaces provided.
• EV-installed spaces: 2% of spaces provided.

If these code changes are adopted, they are likely to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2022, according to a Lafayette planning memo. 

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