Accelerate Kootenays partners celebrated a unique charging station installation in Golden July 31, where fast charging and level 2 charging stations are located at the same site.

Linking the East Kootenay with the Highway 1 corridor, this installation will offer charging opportunities in the heart of downtown Golden, with access to local shopping, eating and other amenities. The site provides options for level 2 charging with four stations currently available for visitors and residents wishing to spend time downtown, while the fast charger will facilitate a quick stop for regional travel.

Golden Mayor Ron Oszust attended the event alongside Diane Tammen, East Kootenay Community Relations Manager, BC Hydro; Saje Gosal, Summer Student with Special Initiatives, Columbia Basin Trust; Art McClean, Operations Manager for Rocky Mountain District, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure; and Megan Lohmann, Accelerate Kootenays Project Manager. The delegates were joined by representatives from Golden Tourism, the Chamber of Commerce, and Town of Golden Councillors and staff.

The Golden charging stations connect East Kootenay communities to the south with the popular Highway 1 corridor. It is the 11th fast charging station installed as part of the Accelerate Kootenays initiative which, by the end of 2018, will have installed 13 fast chargers and 40 level 2 chargers in communities across the region, resulting in over 1,800-kms of connected EV travel.

The fast charging stations are critical infrastructure to allow electric vehicle drivers to travel throughout the Kootenay region, connecting communities from Sparwood to Greenwood, Revelstoke to Field.

The downtown location and the volume of travellers along Highway 1 presented an opportunity to pilot multiple stations in Golden. A partnership with MOTI resulted in additional funding toward a demonstration installation of multiple level 2 stations.

“Our goal is to build a seamless network of electric vehicle charging stations to make it easy and convenient for people to drive from one end of B.C. to the other, powered by clean energy,” said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “Green transportation is an absolute necessity, given the realities we are facing when it comes to tackling climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

The Golden stations are conveniently located close to Town Hall, and near the pedestrian path over the Columbia River, providing access to a variety of local shops and attractions.

“The Town of Golden is pleased to be partnering on the Accelerate Kootenays initiative, and providing this important amenity to visitors and residents alike. Our downtown core offers many amenities and attractions, from our weekly farmers’ market, to the wide range of unique shops, restaurants and cafés. These charging stations will draw more visitors into our downtown, benefitting our community while also demonstrating to local residents the viability of electric vehicles in the Kootenays,” said Golden Mayor Ron Oszust.

The Golden fast charger will be owned and maintained by BC Hydro as a long-term commitment to the B.C. communities that host the stations.

Accelerate Kootenays is a two-year, $1.8 million project that is the result of an innovative collaboration between local and provincial governments as well as funding agencies that have worked together to address the charging infrastructure gap across the region.

The project has been made possible by an unprecedented local collaboration led by the Regional Districts of East Kootenay, Central Kootenay and Kootenay Boundary, and includes in-kind and funding contributions from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund and the Government of Canada, Columbia Basin Trust, B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Teck, FortisBC, BC Hydro and Powertech Labs. Accelerate Kootenays is facilitated by Community Energy Association.

Lead image: L – R – Golden Mayor Ron Oszust;  Art McClean, Operations Manager for Rocky Mountain District, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure;  Saje Gosal, Summer Student with Special Initiatives, Columbia Basin Trust;  Diane Tammen, East Kootenay Community Relations Manager, BC Hydro; and Megan Lohmann, Accelerate Kootenays Project Manager. The vehicle is a Chevrolet Bolt, a full electric vehicle. Photo submitted

Accelerate Kootenays

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