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Hello friends,
Did you feel as optimistic as we did when Mayor Bouley mentioned the prospects of Electrical Vehicle (EV) infrastructure at the State of the City on Thursday? It turns out that a federal grant opportunity is already available to us but we’ve got to move fast because the deadline to apply is May 30th!
As the world shifts towards sustainable energy sources, electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity as a cleaner and greener transportation option. To encourage this shift, the US government has announced a $2.5 billion Discretionary Grant Program for Charging and Fueling Infrastructure. There are grants available from $500,000 to $15 million for Community Grants and will cover no more than 80% of the cost of the EV charging project. Due to Concord’s location within a mile of I-93, we could also qualify under the Corridor Grant Program which starts at $1 million and has no maximum grant size. Concord could stand to win the lion's share of the cost of installing more EV charging stations downtown. We urge the City of Concord to apply for these grants and help us transition to a sustainable future. We must act fast, the deadline is May 30, 2023. It’s important to note that if the city had a staff Sustainability Director already this would be a done deal!
Here's why we need to apply for this grant:
It will benefit our local businesses: Deploying charging infrastructure can attract more EV drivers to our city, which can benefit our local businesses. EV drivers are more likely to shop and spend time in areas that have charging infrastructure. While the time it takes for EVs to charge is often framed as a downside, for communities with downtown charging, they are captive audiences for our main street businesses.
It will make EVs more accessible: Lack of publicly accessible charging infrastructure is one of the biggest barriers to the adoption of EVs. This is especially the case for homeowners who can't easily install home charging. By strategically deploying charging infrastructure, we can make EVs more accessible and convenient for everyone.
It will help reduce our carbon footprint: Electric vehicles (EVs) are a cleaner and greener transportation option that emit dramatically less CO2 per mile driven, even on electric grids powered by some fossil fuels. The Union of Concerned Scientists has determined that, from manufacturing through operation to disposal, the average new US EV produces more than 50 percent less global warming pollution than a comparable new gasoline or diesel vehicle - that’s equivalent to a gasoline-powered vehicle getting 91 miles per gallon (mpg). Due to already existing cleaner-than-average electricity generation in New England, our EVs get the equivalent of 111 mpg… a number which will improve as our grid gets cleaner!
By promoting the use of EVs and deploying charging infrastructure, we can work towards a more sustainable future.
So, what can YOU do to help?
Reach out to your City Councilors and ask them to connect with Deputy City Manager of Development - Matt Walsh - to urge his team to apply for the grant.
Email your city councilor and cc the city clerk to express your support for creating and hiring a full-time Sustainability Director position in the 2023-2024 budget.
By applying for the Discretionary Grant Program for Charging and Fueling Infrastructure and hiring a Sustainability Director, we can take a step towards a cleaner and greener future for Concord. Let's work together to make this happen!
Gratefully,
Concord Greenspace
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