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Buena Vista is getting greener. The city’s first public electric vehicle charging stations are to be introduced into downtown.
City Council this past Thursday approved a contract with Greenspot, a New Jersey company that is to install, own, operate and maintain two charging stations for four vehicles in a downtown parking lot. A grant through Virginia Clean Cities, a nonprofit organization that partners with James Madison University to promote clean energy, is helping pay for the equipment and installation.
“This is one step we can take to make the city more appealing to visitors,” said Tom Roberts, the city’s director of community and economic development. Public charging stations can be found in Lexington and Rockbridge County, but none are in Buena Vista, Roberts pointed out.
“I want to emphasize the economic benefits for the city,” Kristina Ramsey, the city’s economic development coordinator, told Council. “We’re a gateway community. [The charging stations should] bring people into town from the Blue Ridge Parkway and interstate.”
Roberts explained that the Level 2 chargers would provide 220/240 volts of electricity. This level of charger takes one to four hours to fully charge a vehicle. Roberts said he anticipates people will shop in downtown while their cars are getting charged.
The charging stations are to be installed at four parking spaces on the east side of an alley in a municipal parking lot between Forest and Magnolia avenues. Greenspot’s lease of the parking spaces is for 20 years.
No city funds are being used for this project. If the stations get significant use, they should generate a small revenue stream for Buena Vista. After Greenspot covers its costs, the city will receive 10 percent of the profits generated.
