The city of Sedona and APS — the state’s largest power provider — are teaming up to help promote the message and need for sustainability. The Sedona City Council approved an agreement with APS on Tuesday, July 23, which would allow charging stations at city hall.
The adoption of electric vehicles offers many benefits for cities, including cleaner air, increased energy security, and reduction of harmful emissions, a city report states. As the price of electric vehicles continues to drop, one strategy to make them accessible to all income groups is to provide public charging stations. In order to support growing needs for electric cars, Sedona needs a rapid expansion of charging infrastructure.
Earlier this year, council approved a decision package for the purchase and installation of an electric vehicle charging station this fiscal year. The APS Take Charge AZ pilot program offers subsidized charging equipment, which APS will install. Participating in the pilot program will allow the city to install two dual, level 2 EV charging stations while leveraging existing budgeted funds, the report states.
“This is an important first step in expanding public electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout Sedona,” Sedona Sustainability Coordinator McKenzie Jones said after the meeting. “Expanding electric vehicle access supports the city’s commitment to protect our natural environment and reduce harmful emissions.”
She added that if one is interested in increasing electric vehicle infrastructure at their business, APS is still accepting applications for the Take Charge Arizona Pilot.
Through APS’ program, it will construct two new charging stations in the city hall parking lot. This will allow there to be four charging stations and thus four parking spaces to do so. The city will pay for any electric costs that result from using the equipment. The charging stations will be metered separately and be placed on a time-of-use service plan to encourage use of the equipment when solar energy is abundant and energy prices are lower.
Through this pilot program, the city is granting APS an easement for the charging stations. The easement is still being prepared by APS.
These stations can be used by the city to charge fleet vehicles as well as by staff and community members to charge private vehicles. The charging software allows the city to set charging rates so that the stations can serve the public at no additional cost to the city.
This program offers the city the opportunity to increase fleet, workplace, and public charging infrastructure in the community. Now that it’s been approved, APS is set to install the stations later this summer or early fall.
