EVs and charging stations gain ground in Adirondack communities due to rebates
By Mike Lynch
In January, the state Department of Environmental Conservation announced grants for communities purchasing electric vehicles and charging stations.
This year something rare happened. Two Adirondack towns were included among the recipients for vehicles through DEC’s municipal zero-emission vehicle program. According to data provided by the DEC, it’s the first time an Adirondack town was awarded a rebate for vehicles through this particular program, though communities have been previously awarded money for charging stations.
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Indian Lake and Westport are each going to receive a $7,500 rebate for electric vehicle purchases made in recent years.
It comes just a few years after six Adirondack municipalities won awards through this program for charging stations. Those 2022 awards went to the towns of Indian Lake, Jay, Tupper Lake, Chesterfield and Newcomb for charging stations. The village of Northville also received funding. Prior to that, Lake George and Essex County were awarded grants for charging infrastructure in 2016.
It’s rare for local governments to own electric vehicles in the park, though not unheard of. For instance, the village of Lake Placid has two electric vehicles and Saranac Lake has one. Warren County, which was designated a climate smart community in 2020, has three electric vehicles.
As for the DEC, the agency owns 18 electric vehicles, 16 of which are plug-in hybrids, as part of its fleets in Region 5 and 6.
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Overall, there are 490 electric vehicles registered in Essex County, where Westport is located, and 50 in Hamilton County, home to Indian Lake, according to data compiled by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. About 276,000 are registered statewide.
For Indian Lake and Westport, which both purchased their vehicles a couple years ago, the purchases have different significance.
Indian Lake
In Indian Lake, buying an electric vehicle comes just a few years after the town was awarded $236,000 by the state for installing two fast charging pedestals, with two plugs each. The town plans to install those at its welcome center by September. The car and charging station are the town’s first steps toward having EV infrastructure.
The addition of the charging ports is expected to benefit tourists.
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“Visitors coming through definitely have electric cars,” said Christine Pouch, director of the town department of economic development, marketing and events. “People have stopped here and asked where to find a charger.”
Currently there is a gap in charging stations between North Creek and Blue Mountain Lake, Pouch said. This station will provide needed services and be highly visible on Route 28 in downtown Indian Lake. In addition, people will be able to get information about nearby tourism attractions from the welcome center while charging their vehicles.
As for the town having an electric car, Pouch said driving it has saved the town money but also made her aware of the infrastructure needs in the park.
“In the North Country, we do need more charging stations,” she said. “I have been very careful to make sure that I plan my trips and to make sure that there are charging stations along the way, so I don’t get stuck or caught on a low battery. So the more we have, the better off we’re going to be.”
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Westport
In Westport, the purchase of the electric car is another step in the direction of using green energy for a municipality that has been making big strides in that area in recent years. The purchase also makes financial sense, according to Westport supervisor Ike Tyler.
Westport purchased its Chevy Volt for about $30,000 using grant money it received during the pandemic, in addition to the New York state rebate.
“It just seemed logical to us to get the electric car to use because basically it didn’t cost anything,” Tyler said.
Westport can also generate its own electricity for the vehicle. It has a solar panel array on its town hall roof. The panels provide power for the building, including its heat pump and an electric car charging port.
In addition to the improvements to its town hall, which was fully renovated several years ago, the town installed solar panels at its wastewater treatment plant in Wadhams. Plus, the town is looking to add solar arrays to power other buildings and operations. It also used a state grant to have a fast charging station installed near a town park in downtown.
Westport’s vehicle is used by a number of departments. Administrators use it to attend meetings while highway department and wastewater treatment department staff use it for trips to Plattsburgh to buy parts or have water or wastewater tested. The electric car saves town trucks additional wear and tear. Those vehicles are also not fuel-efficient, so it benefits the town not to use them on longer trips.
A native to Westport, Tyler said he’s witnessed big changes in the climate over his lifetime. Lake Champlain rarely freezes over anymore, winters are generally warmer, and heavy rain storms have done significant damage to the town’s infrastructure. So moving towards using green energy makes sense.
“I’m a firm believer in doing our part,” Tyler said.
Top photo: Town of Westport Supervisor Ike Tyler stands next to the town’s electric car behind the town hall, which has solar panels and an EV charging station. Photo by Mike Lynch
Grants for charging ports through the municipal zero emission vehicle rebate program
2016
- Essex County, $19,144.52, 4 Level 2 charging ports
- Town of Lake George, $16,000, 2 Level 2 charging ports
- Village of Lake George, $16,000, 2 Level 2 charging ports
2021
- Town of Westport, $112,108 for one fast charge pedesta
2022
- Town of Indian Lake, $236,686.50 for two DC fast charge pedestals
- Town of Jay, $53,292 for six Level 2 charging ports
- Town of Newcomb, $49,452.50 for six Level 2 charging ports
- Village of Northville, $23,659 for two Level 2 charging ports
- Town of Chesterfield, $37,525.45 for two Level 2 charging ports
- Town of Tupper Lake, $17,200 for two Level 2 charging ports
I’m so glad the people in charge in our Adirondack towns are trying to adapt to climate change, instead of denying it like some others in positions of power!
As long as it’s not forced upon the public as some in a position of power have been doing. Then it becomes a problem
I hope that the municipalities receiving grants to support the electric vehicle push are ready to accept the infrastructure and maintenance costs. This is all very premature and political. Fossil fuel vehicles will be the predominant form of transportation as far as the eye can see.
LOL. You’re not looking very far… I wonder how “Fossil fuel vehicles” have supported such a ubiquitous cottage industry of auto mechanics without the need for maintenance?
Looking far enough.
Given all the constraints, experts expect gas cars and trucks to be available until at least 2050, though a handful of states will phase them out as soon as 2035. To date, those states include California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington.
Do you think the whole scheme has a political component?
In NYS the mandate to electrify school bus fleets without thinking through all the ramifications is a glaring example of government gone crazy!
What is the scheme? What part political? What does political even mean? Social change doesn’t happen overnight, of course gasoline powered vehicles will continue to be available. Are you under the impression there will be checkpoints set up along the thruway confiscating gasoline powered vehicles? Let me guess, some social media account presented a photo of a toll booth somewhere and labelled it a fossil fuel checkpoint? Is that what this is? Spreading nonsense and propaganda at the behest of the fossil fuel industry doesn’t fit your nebulous version of “political?” Okay then.
You guessed wrong about social media. I do not have an account on any platform. I do have common sense however, and the hysteria ” Spreading nonsense and propaganda at the behest of the fossil fuel industry” by some surrounding the whole climate change issue definitely has a political component.
Spreading nonsense and propaganda regarding climate change, spending billions of federal dollars on many projects that have not proved to be practical or economically viable by Democratic administrations, proves the political component.
I wonder if you’ve noticed the current president has empowered an unelected Canadian African, whose primary claim to fame has been the manufacture of electric cars? And that same president held a sales event for those electric cars on the White House lawn just last week? Or that the current president is negotiating with Ukraine to gain access to one of the largest deposits of minerals in the world needed for manufacture of EV batteries? Or that the current president has threatened to annex Greenland, in order to gain access to minerals needed for, wait for it, EV batteries. Open your eyes. Common sense isn’t real when your eyes are pasted over and your eyes are full of cotton. Seems you’re more upset about local people trying to empower other local people, to spend tax dollars locally, benefiting our local communities as opposed to propping up multinational corporations and the armies needed to gain control over the planetary supply before the locals become too empowered. That may be too much common sense for you so, boil it down to one question. Why do you blindly eat from the hand of oligarchs while scoffing at local people trying to find a sustainable way forward?
I do have common sense, I’m afraid you have a severe case of TDS. Try to get help ASAP.
Can’t tell you how pleased I was to see the charging station in Northville. With an off-grid cabin there, I can’t charge when on vacation. Luckily, my Kia is a PHEV! This charging station truly puts Northville on the map as a place to stop, and not just cruise past…for many. It encourages folks to have an ice cream, walk to the shops, and enjoy the park. There is room in this country for trucks, RVs, 4 wheelers etc. that are powered by fossil fuels but it would be great to NOT be dependent on fossil fuel supplies…and EVs can make a huge difference. Near my primary home a solar powered charging station has recently been installed! It is progress for sure! I love Northville and I love that they were progressive and went after this grant.