Wheeling to Get New EV Charging Stations
TL/DR –
The city of Wheeling will use federal funding to expand the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the city. The Wheeling City Council has approved a $73,915 expenditure for Yahn Electric Company to install EV chargers at various locations. Revenue generated from these charging stations will go to the individual facilities where they are located.
Federal Funds Approved for Expansion of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Wheeling
The city of Wheeling, West Virginia, is using federal funding to scale up the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations within its territory. The Wheeling City Council recently passed an ordinance permitting City Manager Robert Herron to allocate $73,915 towards the installation of new EV chargers at the Intermodal Transportation Center in the downtown area and at Centre Market in central Wheeling. The money will come from the city’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant fund.
“The Inflation Reduction Act during the Biden Administration provided this funding. It was temporarily delayed when President Trump took office but has now been released. We actually bid this project out several years ago, and the contractors kept the initial price,” Herron explained.
Affordable Installation with Yahn Electric
Yahn Electric Company Inc. based in Wheeling had the lowest bid for the project. In comparison, ERB Electric quoted $78,850, and United Electric offered a bid of $75,000. The project will see the installation of three new EV chargers at the Intermodal Transportation Center and two at Centre Market.
“We currently have four at the Market Street Parking Structure, so this will add five more,” Herron reported.
The new EV charging stations at Centre Market will repurpose existing parking spaces near the Lower Market House. “Regrettably, two parking spaces will be needed,” Herron revealed, noting that the chargers would consume two existing spaces around the market houses.
The chargers planned for the Intermodal Transportation Center, located on Main Street near the WesBanco Arena, will probably be installed on the second floor of the parking structure as per the city manager. Thus far, there have been no problems with the city-owned EV charging stations.
EV Charging Stations Support Enforcement Vehicles
Wheeling city recently invested in new Nissan Leaf electric vehicles for use as parking enforcement cars. These vehicles have been utilizing the EV charging stations within the new Market Street Parking Garage, included as part of its original design.
Drivers of electric or hybrid vehicles who need to charge their vehicles can do so at the city-run EV stations. Payments can be made at each EV charging station kiosk. The revenues from usage of these charging stations are allocated to the individual facilities where they are located as per Herron.
The income from the EV charging stations at the Market Street Parking Garage is channeled into the budget for that structure. The Intermodal Transportation Center’s EV charging station proceeds will go into a separate fund for that facility, as required by the Federal Transportation Authority. The revenues from the future EV charging stations at Centre Market will be added to the city’s general fund.
“The Centre Market revenue will be directed toward the general fund, as the Centre Market is entirely funded from the general fund,” Herron clarified.
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