Chafee unveils electric vehicle charging station at RWU

IN A PHOTO POSTED ON GOV. Lincoln D. Chafee's Twitter page, the governor looks at the electric vehicle charging station at Roger Williams University, the first of as many of 50 stations to be implemented in the state. / COURTESY THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
IN A PHOTO POSTED ON GOV. Lincoln D. Chafee's Twitter page, the governor looks at the electric vehicle charging station at Roger Williams University, the first of as many of 50 stations to be implemented in the state. / COURTESY THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

BRISTOL – Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee celebrated the launch of a statewide network of electric vehicle charging stations on Roger Williams University campus Tuesday, unveiling one of the first of the charging stations to be installed in Rhode Island.
Over the next three months as many as 50 stations will be added to the network, according to the governor. Chafee also announced that Rhode Island is committing to further measures in the pursuit of alternative fuel use by transition the state fleet to alternative fuel vehicles in the coming years.
“We will require that new state vehicle purchases be electric vehicles or hybrids wherever possible.” Richard Licht, Chafee’s director of administration, said in prepared remarks.
“We are pleased to be able to leverage Federal [American Recovery and Reinvestment Act] State Energy Program dollars to purchase electric vehicles and hybrids and to develop the network of charging stations at convenient locations throughout Rhode Island – from coffee shops and supermarkets to state beaches and recreation areas,” said Licht.
Licht added that the transition had already begun and that the state has replaced 30 gas-powered state cars with low-emission hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. .
“Supporting electric vehicle transportation in Rhode Island will provide a boost to the state economy, saving money on gas and keeping dollars that would have been spent on imported oil here in Rhode Island …,” said Chafee. “We are developing a clean and efficient transportation infrastructure for the future, saving taxpayer dollars and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants.”
ChargePoint, the company that installed the charging station, received the $781,225 contract from the state Office of Energy to install stat-of-the-art charging stations throughout Road Island. The company will be collaborating with National Grid to implement the network.
“This partnership to develop electric vehicle infrastructure throughout our state is a perfect example of what can happen when state, federal, and local governments work together with private companies.” Rep. James R. Langevin said in a statement.

No posts to display