
(photo by ECOtality)
The State of New York has made $5 million available as part of the first rebate designed for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations.
Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the new Charge Ready NY initiative provides a $4,000 rebate per charging port for public or private employers, building owners, municipalities and nonprofit organizations to install Level 2 charging stations.
Level 2 charging stations provide up to 25 miles of electric range per hour of charging.
“New York continues to lead the nation in reducing our carbon footprint by aggressively investing in clean transportation methods,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. “By expanding public access to electric vehicle charging stations, this program will make it more affordable for New Yorkers to make the switch to an environmentally friendly electric vehicle, resulting in a cleaner, greener New York for all.”
The rebate is designed for public parking lots that have at least 10 parking spaces and are open to the public at least 12 hours per day, five days per week. Workplaces that have at least 10 parking spaces that serve a minimum of 15 employees who work at or near the lot, such as office buildings and schools, also are eligible to apply for the rebate. Multi-unit housing facilities qualify for the rebate if they have at least eight parking spaces that primarily serve a building with five or more housing units.
“Through initiatives like Charge Ready NY, Gov. Cuomo is helping New Yorkers join the clean transportation revolution that is taking place in our state,” NYSERDA CEO Alicia Barton said. “Combined with the Drive Clean Rebate, which provides rebates for the purchase of electric vehicles, this initiative is helping reduce emissions by making cleaner modes of transportation a possibility for more and more drivers.”
The installation of charging stations for public use supports the governor’s ambitious clean energy goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030. The Charge Ready NY rebate can save up to 80 percent of a typical charging station’s installation cost.
“The buildout of an extensive electric car charging network is key to getting more New Yorkers to drive low-emission vehicles and bringing New York State that much closer to its clean energy goals,” New York Power Authority President and CEO Gil Quiniones said. “Our new EVolve NY electric vehicle initiative focuses on addressing infrastructure barriers and our ongoing joint efforts with NYSERDA will help bring more fast chargers to qualifying businesses and nonprofits through our workplace charging programs across the state.
Announced in May, EVolve NY is a $250 million investment by the NYPA to expand an electric vehicle initiative. The initial phase of funding directs $40 million to be allocated to three primary new programs through the end of 2019, including interstate fast chargers, airport fast chargers near John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports and EV model communities.
In March 2017, the state launched its Drive Clean Rebate program, which provides residents with a rebate of up to $2,000 for the purchase or lease of a new plug-in hybrid or battery electric care. More than 6,600 New Yorkers have received rebates in the last year for 35 different types of cars; since its launch, more than 9,000 New York residents have received rebates totaling more than $12 million.
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