Two electric vehicle charging stations have been installed in the Sitter Family Hall parking lot at Fort Lewis College.
Four vehicles will be able to charge at once with each ChargePoint station equipped with two plugs.
Installation of the charging stations was led by the Campus Sustainability Council, which received an $18,000 grant from Charge Ahead Colorado for the purchase and installation of the stations.
Charge Ahead Colorado is a program administered by the Colorado Energy Office to assist communities and organizations across the state purchase and install EV charging stations.
The charging stations support FLC’s Sustainability Action Plan, which has a goal of reaching carbon neutrality on campus by 2050.
Since 2011, the baseline year for campus carbon emissions, FLC has recorded a 62% reduction in its carbon footprint.
“Commuting is a substantial part of our carbon footprint and the hardest to tackle because it’s decentralized,” said Kathy Hilimire, associate professor of Environment & Sustainability and campus sustainability coordinator.
To support clean commuting, the Campus Sustainability Council encourages free and discounted transit passes available to students and employees. The council also encourages walking and biking to campus.
“One of the things we try to do is show our community how to be sustainable on a budget and emphasize things that are cost saving and accessible,” Hilimire said. “We’re excited to provide free charging.”
Plugging in will be free, but commuters will need a day pass or annual pass to park at the charge station.
In addition to the Charge Ahead grant, the CSC received financial support through the Green Fund, donations to FLC reserved for sustainability initiatives and La Plata Electric Association provided $4,000.
Charge stations will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. A full charge will take about six to eight hours.
Depending on the amount of use the stations get, time limits and a virtual waiting list could be developed.
FLC looks to add more EV charging stations.
parmijo @durangoherald.com
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