At Milford’s EV ribbon cutting are, from left, Kim Wills, Electric Director Tony Chipola, City Clerk Terri Hudson, Mayor Archie Campbell, Vice Mayor Jason James, Deputy Clerk Katrina White and Valerie Heritage. Photo by Katie Kazimir
Twice delayed because of rain, a ribbon cutting for two new electric vehicle charging stations in downtown Milford finally took place Friday.
Sunny skies and a comfortable temperature hinting at the upcoming segue to spring made for a pleasant ceremony at the NE Front Street parking lot.
A couple dozen people, including city officials, staff and local media, gathered around the two new EV charging stations, which can be found in the corner of the parking lot closest to the Milford Senior Center.
As the group engaged in friendly conversations amongst themselves, Milford Mayor Archie Campbell, with oversized scissors bearing the words “GREATER MILFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE” in hand, made his way to the front of the crowd.
“Are we ready?” Campbell asked the handful of photographers poised ready with cameras after other key players in the EV chargers implementation flanked the mayor behind a ceremonial long red ribbon.
“Move a little to your left everyone so we can get both charging stations in the shot,” one photographer directed.
A couple steps to the left for the group, and Campbell clipped the red ribbon as cameras clicked and the small crowd applauded.
Two years in the making, the EV charging stations were paid for with a DNREC DC Fast Vehicle Charging Station Grant Program, with funding from the VW Mitigation Settlement Fund (July 2022).
Adding EV chargers
By adding EV chargers in the downtown corridor, Milford officials hope to draw more foot traffic to the town’s active Farmers Market, Public Library, Riverwalk, local shops and restaurants.
They also will provide public charging for those traveling Del. 1 and Del. 113.
The chargers will be accessible to the public 24 hours a day and users will pay a fee for powering their vehicles.
The EV charging stations are one of 14 project locations throughout Delaware made possible by the DNREC grant.
They offer a variety of charging location types made by different manufacturers and reflect geographic diversity across the state.
Funded sites will also be in shopping centers, hotels and traditional fueling centers, and will provide both en-route charging opportunities and neighborhood charging opportunities, a DNREC press release said.
“These charging stations represent the first wave of major investments in Delaware to build out a network of reliable and convenient fast electric vehicle charging stations for our residents and visitors,” said Shawn M. Garvin, DNREC secretary, in a press release.
The state won’t stop with the 14 locations.
“DNREC and DelDOT are working together on an electric vehicle infrastructure plan that will guide future investments and programs to ensure a smooth transition to a cleaner, more equitable transportation system,” Garvin said.
DNREC says transportation is the largest single source of Delaware’s greenhouse gas emission.
Building out the state’s charging network is meant to encourage (some say force) people to buy electric vehicles and while reducing emission to meet Delaware’s Climate Action Plan.
The funding builds upon Delaware Clean Transportation Incentive Programs, which include a suite of rebates for light-duty vehicles and Level 2 charging stations, DNREC said.
Funding for the DC Fast Charging Stations comes from the Environmental Mitigation Trust, a negotiated settlement between Volkswagen and the federal government.
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