Northeast Utilities said today it is in the initial stages of developing an electric charging infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
In a recent application for a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant, two NU operating companies, Connecticut Light & Power and Western Massachusetts Electric, are proposing to build a network of 575 charging stations over the next two years.
Berlin-based NU said it is asking the DOE for $693,750 to finance half the estimated $1.4 million project cost. DOE’s decision is expected in June.
The plan calls for a geographically diverse combination of home-based, workplace and publicly-accessible sites in the utilities’ existing service territories. The companies are collaborating with New England-based Environment Northeast, the town of West Hartford, and the Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition, on key aspects of the project including location selection and results monitoring.
“We see extraordinary potential in electric transportation as one of the tools to help meet the environmental and energy policy objectives of our regional and national leaders,” said James B. Robb, NU senior vice president of enterprise planning and development. “As the next generation of vehicles gets introduced, likely late in 2010, we want to be sure that New England is among the first markets. The development of a charging infrastructure is important, both to support the adoption of these exciting new vehicles and to allow us to assess the impact on our electric distribution system.”
Reader response:
“I believe this new technologies to be teriffic. What confuses me is how will the needed power be generated, and what fuel will generate such power. Will this take from our needed supply to homes? It seems that coal is being demonized by enviromentalists and our new administration as a dirty and dangerous product. They have also demonized Nuclear power as the end of humanity even though our European model of perfection has numerous nuclear plants
Wind & solar are being worked on but it will take 10-20 years for the infrustructure and corridor needed to dispense it across America. I am looking for a common sense answer and not another idealistic answer. Thanks for the anticipated response.” — E. Richman, Home Gallery.
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