By Mike Smith
El Rito Media

The City of Artesia opposed state requirements that new electrical vehicle (EV) charging stations be added to certain new construction projects in New Mexico.

City Councilors voted Aug. 13 to approve a resolution in opposition to the rules, said Luke Burns, City of Artesia spokesperson.

He said the council had an issue with the mandates enacted in the form of code rules instead of being approved by the New Mexico Legislature.

“They also had concerns for the capacity of the power grid to support the chargers, and the increased cost that the mandates add to these construction projects,” Burns said.

The Artesia resolution stated the mandates would place a burden on Artesia residents and small business owners.

In January of this year CID adopted the 2021 Commercial Energy Conservation Code and the 2021 Residential Energy Conservation Code.

Adoption of the codes required EV infrastructure be built into new commercial and residential construction projects, read a CID news release.

The new codes went into effect on July 30.

The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department (NMRLD) noted that new homes and residential buildings were only required to have a 50-amp circuit breaker installed and connected to an electrical outlet with 6-gauge wire.

“The City of Artesia does not believe there has been sufficient research to determine a cost analysis to its taxpayers and is in opposition to the 2021 Commercial Energy Conservation Code and 2021 Residential Energy Conservation Code,” read a part of the resolution.

Carlsbad also opposed to EV mandate

Carlsbad city councilors also opposed the regulations.

Councilors voted unanimously Aug. 27 to approve a resolution stating opposition to the mandates approved earlier this year by the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID).

Before the Council voted, Carlsbad electrician Cory Bock, owner of Bock Electric said the mandate could drive up the cost for a new house anywhere from 10 to 15 percent. That’s because wiring a house to be all electric-ready and the EV charger means homeowners could be forced to buy larger electrical service.

“Can we, do it? Yeah, if you want it, but you shouldn’t mandate it,” he said.

Trenton Cornum, a Carlsbad land developer, said the EV mandate would add more problems to increasing infrastructure building costs in New Mexico.

“I don’t have a problem if someone wants an EV charger,” he said during the meeting.

“It’s not a one size shoe that fits all.”

In a memorandum to Carlsbad Mayor Rick Lopez and the City Council, City Administrator Wendy Austin said the EV mandates would place a burden on homeowners and small businesses along with housing and economic development projects.

Lopez admitted frustration that the CID did not notify the City of Carlsbad when the mandates were approved earlier this year.

“Affordable housing and encouraging retail growth are already challenging enough without the added burden of unnecessary costs. Our focus should remain on building a sustainable community without imposing mandates that could hinder our progress,” he said.

Mike Smith can be contacted at 575-308-8734 or via email at msmith@currentargus.com.