City Council passes bill to improve availability of electric car chargers

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pointing to the devastation by recent back-to-back hurricanes in the U.S. Southeast, Philadelphia City Council members on Thursday moved forward with bills aimed at tackling climate change.

Council passed member Nina Ahmad’s bill to improve the availability of electric car chargers, which she hopes will encourage more EV ownership. She said the measure would help reduce the use of fossil fuels — the largest contributor to climate change.

“We all need to not only remember those who are literally fighting for their lives as [Hurricane Milton] bears down on them, but what we need to do collectively to really address climate change with an urgency,” she said. “It really underscores the point that fossil fuels are most responsible for our climate crisis.”

Councilmember Jaime Gauthier also introduced a bill aimed at addressing climate change. It would restore the sustainable business tax credit, which expired last year, and expand it to a maximum of $8,000 with no cap on how many businesses could claim it.

“This legislative body must encourage our private sector partners to be part of the climate solution and reward those who prioritize the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit,” she said.

“By restoring the sustainable business tax credit, City Council will make our local economy and neighborhoods more climate-resistant, uplifting our neighborhood businesses and healing our planet at the same time.”

To qualify, businesses would have to meet the Office of Sustainability’s definition or be certified by B Lab.