More electric vehicle charging stations are coming to Phoenix thanks to a deal between the city and Salt River Project.
The City Council unanimously approved a plan to add 11 charging stations at public libraries and parks. The total cost is expected to be about $224,000. SRP will cover $154,000, leaving Phoenix to pay about $70,000.
Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari said the lower cost is just one benefit: “You know, taking these steps to improve infrastructure for electrification is a hugely important step to combating air pollution in our city.”
They work kind of like gas stations. The company, Blink, operates the stations and charges people based on how much electricity they use. Blink will then reimburse the city for electricity. Locations for the new stations have not yet been decided.
In April, Mayor Kate Gallego announced that Ansari will chair a new citizen committee to create an equitable roadmap for electrification.
“We know that to have a significant effect on climate change, we must reduce the number of gasoline powered vehicles on the road,” Gallego said in a news release. “This group will map out a plan to create the conditions necessary for the people of Phoenix to confidently make the switch.”
A spokesperson for Ansari said she is interviewing potential candidates for the committee and expects to have an official list in a few weeks.
“Phoenix can and will be a global leader on this front,” Ansari said. “We need to build the city of the future, and sustainable infrastructure is key to getting us there.”
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