Policies

Use of Solar Carport Policy

Policy Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish procedures for the use of the Farmingdale State College (FSC) Solar Carport and Electric Vehicle charging stations.

Persons Affected

Faculty, Staff, Students, Third-Parties

Policy Statement

The FSC Solar Carport, located in parking lot 5, can provide power to Electric Vehicles (EV) and Plug in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEV). The Solar Carport has 20 level 2 EV charging stations, each station can provide power to one parked EV or PHEV at a time. Vehicles parked in an EV charging station must display a valid standard FSC parking permit that is required on all parked vehicles. Users of EV chargers shall follow all instructions to ensure the safe and proper use of chargers, including proper storage of the charging cord and plug after use.

Parking at the charging stations will be limited to 4 hours. This time limit assists in creating turnover for the spaces in order to maximize their availability and use by EV vehicle owners. Loitering fees will be applied if an EV remains connected to a charging station for more than 4 hours.

The charging station hourly rate is $1.50 per hour (4 hours maximum). After a parked vehicle has reached the 4 hour maximum time limit, a Loitering Fee of $3.00 per hour will be assessed. The College reserves the right to adjust pricing at any time, as direct and indirect operational costs change over time. FSC will reevaluate its EV charger parking policies periodically in order to determine if revisions to the fee structure are necessary.

Parking of vehicles that cannot be properly coupled to the EV charger plug and charged is strictly prohibited (for example, gas powered vehicles). Overnight parking is not permitted. Failure to adhere to the FSC Parking Regulations and the guidelines outlined in this policy regarding EV charging stations may result in issuance of a citation and/or towing of the vehicle.

The College uses SWTCH charger software to enable access to the charging stations. The use of the EV stations requires use of SWTCH via the mobile or web app (https://charge.swtchenergy.com/). FSC reserves the right to use data collected by SWTCH to monitor, track and analyze campus station usage. This data may be used to optimize pricing, update usage rules etc.

The College assumes no responsibility or liability for damage done to vehicles while they are using campus EV charging stations.

Procedures

1. Only users with an Electric Vehicle or a Plug in Hybrid Vehicle can use the EV parking stations.
2. All vehicles using the EV charging stations must obtain and display a valid FSC parking permit.
3. Users must download the SWTCH mobile or web app (https://charge.swtchenergy.com/) to utilize the EV charging stations.
4. Parking at the EV charging stations is limited to 4 hours.

Definitions

Solar Carport – Solar energy capturing canopy located in parking lot 5, near Lupton Hall, where the EV charging stations are located.

Electric Vehicle – A vehicle that is powered by an electric motor which draws electricity from a battery that is capable of being charged from an external source.

Plug in Hybrid Vehicle – A vehicle that can be powered by an electric motor which draws electricity from a battery that is capable of being charged from an external source, and by an internal combustion engine.

Responsible Office

Facilities Operations

Policy History

Revised September 9, 2024