The city of Portland unveiled two new charging stations for electric vehicles this week. The stations, in the Temple Street and Spring Street parking garages, are free to the public.
The stations are the result of an initiative between the Greater Portland Council of Governments and the Iberdrola USA Foundation to encourage electrical vehicle use as a means to decrease pollution and lower fuel and maintenance costs. A $50,000 grant from Iberdrola, the parent company of Central Maine Power, paid for the installation and maintenance of the stations within CMP’s service area. So far, seven EV chargers have been installed at municipal buildings and other locations.
“As part of an initiative with the Edison Electric Institute, Iberdrola USA spends 5 percent of our annual fleet budget on electric plug-in vehicles, which includes our fleet in Maine, and Central Maine Power has given grants to 22 Maine towns, businesses, and nonprofits for EV technology,” said Bob Kump, chief corporate officer of Iberdrola USA and president of the Iberdrola USA Foundation, in a news release.
In the fall of 2014, the city installed its first two EV charging stations in the Elm Street garage, and incorporated a 2014 Nissan Leaf plug-in electric vehicle into its fleet. One of the charging stations is for the general public and the other is for the recently acquired Leaf, which is used by the Inspections Division and shared among city employees to encourage use.
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