By Erin Knutson

The City of Fernie, in a move towards a greener future, endorsed a lease with EVLution Charge Inc. to facilitate the construction of an EV Charging Station at the Fernie Skate Park during the July 8 council meeting at the Seniors’ Centre.

Chief Administrative Officer Michael Boronowski suggested that council support the motion to legitimize the lease for EVLution.

“By formalizing the lease with EVLution, it will allow for the construction of a fast-charging station at the Fernie Skate Park should their funding application be successful,” he said in his report.

Mayor Nic Milligan and staff will execute the lease once the funding has been approved and announced to the public.

If grant funding is denied, the lease will be terminated immediately, as per Boronowski’s instructions, or in the event of failure to meet the requirements outlined in the agreement, which stipulate that the charging station must be installed by July 1, 2026.

“The lease, attached to this report, is supported by EVLution and its staff and was developed in consultation with legal counsel. It provides for a 20-year term, and under the terms of the lease, EVLution will bear the full responsibility for all costs related to the project, with the city’s responsibility limited to the incremental increase in snow clearing for the four spots,” he said.

Fernie will receive 10% of the profits from electricity sales to EV customers, which will be paid as rent to offset maintenance costs for the area, according to the agreement.

Corporate Officer Lavinia McElwee read the recommendation that the city endorse the lease with EVLution to establish an EV Charging Station at the Fernie Skate Park, which was moved by councillors Kevin McIsaac and Troy Nixon.

Milligan passed the vote in favour of supporting the lease, a decision that was met with unanimous support from the council.

Lead image: An EV charging station at city hall. e-KNOW file photo

e-KNOW

Article Share