Albion village seeks state funding for charging stations
ALBION – The Village Board voted Friday to pursue funding from the state’s “Charge Ready NY” program to add four charging ports for electric vehicles in the downtown.
The village is seeking state funding for one charging station with two ports at the Main Street parking lot, just north of the Presbyterian Church, and another charging station with two ports across from the Village Hall in the parking lot on East Bank Street.
The state is offering incentives up to $4,000 per port or $8,000 for a dual station. Albion will be seeking $16,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. NYSERDA set aside $5 million to encourage electric charging stations across the state. There is currently $1.5 million remaining in that fund. (Click here for more information.)
The Albion Betterment Committee has encouraged the village to add the charging stations. The ABC believes the stations will be a draw for the downtown for people with electric vehicles. The ABC expects to see the electric vehicles become more popular in the coming years.
The $16,000 allowed for the four ports is expected to cover the costs of the charging stations, wiring, meters, and charging units. The village will need to bid the project out.
There is an additional annual cost of $250 for each of the four ports for software costs or $1,000 annually.
The village needs to commit to keeping the charging stations for at least five years as part of the application, said Gary Katsanis, the deputy mayor.
Albion may also partner with National Grid in hosting events promoting charging stations. That could include “Ride and Drive” events where electric car manufacturers bring in vehicles for people to do test drives.
“It seems like a good project to bring attention to the downtown,” Katsanis said about the charging stations.
