Dutchess Installs Charging Stations At 3 County Locations

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Three of four electric car charging stations in Dutchess County are now operational and available for public use. County Executive Marcus Molinaro made the announcement Monday. Dual-port Level 2 charging stations have been installed at the Dutchess County Office Building in the City of Poughkeepsie, the Beacon Government Center in the City of Beacon and the Village Hall in Tivoli. A fourth charging station is slated to be operational in the Village of Pawling later this summer.

“These charging stations are one more step towards reducing Dutchess County’s carbon footprint," Molinaro said. "Having new charging locations encourages people to consider 'green' vehicle choices and is yet another way we can all make a difference to improve and preserve our environment for future generations.”

The stations are strategically located throughout Dutchess County for public use and to recharge county vehicles, according to a spokeswoman. The county has contracted with EV Connect to serve as the payment vendor for the charging stations. The stations are just $1.25 per charging hour to use through the EV Connect app. Dutchess County will receive 80 percent of the revenue from EV Connect.

The charging stations were part of a purchase last year that included four Nissan Leaf Model S electric vehicles, with grant support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Each station has an extended warrantee and a four-year network connection and management contract.

The County continues to promote clean, renewable energy usage. “Green” or “sustainable” vehicles currently represent 25 percent of the County’s vehicle fleet and, over the next six to nine months, the county will replace 10 of its gas-fueled vehicles with hybrid electric vehicles. Electric vehicles can travel up to 100 miles on a full charge and cost 50 percent to 70 percent less to operate per mile than a gas-fueled vehicle, making the vehicles and charging stations ideal for use by County employees in various departments.

Charging location addresses are as follows:

• Beacon Government Center, 223 Main Street, Beacon
• Dutchess County Office Building, 22 Market Street, Poughkeepsie
• Pawling Village Hall, 59 Charles Coleman Blvd., Pawling
• Tivoli Village Hall, 1 Tivoli Commons, Tivoli

Photo credit: Submitted.