Are More EV Charging Stations Coming to Alexandria?
City Council will vote July 2 to install 27 stations at city facilities
ALEXANDRIA, VA-In the July edition of the Council Connection newsletter, Mayor Justin Wilson writes about the possibility of more electric vehicle charging stations being installed throughout the city. Tomorrow night, City Council will vote on an agreement to have private firms install 27 stations at City of Alexandria facilities.
Wilson points out that studies show the majority of EV owners charge their vehicles at home. For residents of Alexandria, this can be a problem, especially for those who live in multi-family dwellings.
City Council has previously approved various measures to try to reverse what Wilson terms a “climate emergency.” Last year, Council approved Alexandria’s Energy and Climate Change Action Plan, which maps out the steps to decrease the impact of the problem and create a better future. It focuses on 13 strategies in five areas, such as buildings, transportation, and carbon-free electricity.
The proposal to install charging stations at various locations is another step. The mayor shares that at present, there are 3,100 EVs in the city.
Last November, The Zebra reported on the city’s Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Readiness Strategy. The Strategy recommended various actions, which the city has since completed. They included hiring an EV planner “to serve as a centralized point of contact and outreach coordinator to engage with the Alexandria community on electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging infrastructure matters,” according to the story. The Strategy also recommended that two percent of parking spaces connected to new office buildings or multi-family homes have the infrastructure in place for future charging stations.
A week ago, Council voted to apply for federal funding to fund the city’s current charging infrastructure and eventual expansion.
