Fairfield announces grant to install electric vehicle charging stations within city
The city of Fairfield announced that they have received a funding grant of nearly half a million dollars to install electric vehicle charging stations within the city.The city says that the stations will be implemented in three different commercial areas within city limits.This comes as the city’s leaders stood united on Friday in pushing for greater electric vehicle adoption across Fairfield.”We are thrilled to receive this grant from OKI (the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments),” said Nick Dill, city engineer of Fairfield, who led the grant writing process. “This funding will allow us to install charging stations at strategic locations, making it easier for residents and visitors to transition to electric vehicles.”Adam Sackenheim, Fairfield’s assistant city manager for infrastructure, agreed.”This project is a significant step forward in achieving our sustainability goals,” said Sackenheim. “By expanding our charging infrastructure, we are not only reducing emissions but also improving air quality and enhancing our community’s livability.” Despite the announcement, there is no word yet on where specifically in Fairfield the three charging station locations will be built.Fairfield City Manager Scott Timmer says that the implementation of these stations will help to advance the city’s Fairfield Sustains program, which he describes as “a comprehensive roadmap designed to ensure Fairfield maximizes its resources, addresses environmental, economic, and livability considerations, and improves quality of life for all residents.”The charging stations have become increasingly common in the tri-state in recent years, in part due to billions in funding allocated by Congress in 2021 for the express purpose of building them nationwide.Still, electric vehicle ownership in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana has lagged behind other regions of the country, according to U.S. Department of Energy statistics.Ohio recorded 50,393 EV registrations at the end of 2023, while Indiana had 26,101 registrations, and Kentucky had 11,617 registrations. Even though Ohio has the most registrations of the three states in the region, many other less-populated states than Ohio recorded more registrations in 2023. For example, states such as Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington have more registrations than Ohio, despite all being less populated states.Still, Department of Energy Data shows that ownership has greatly increased year by year recently. Nationwide, electric vehicle ownership increased from 280,300 registrations in 2016 to 3,555,900 in 2023. Similar radical jumps in registration have been recorded between 2016 and 2023 in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky as well.Experts say that this is due in part to how widespread the cars are now being manufactured by car companies, as well as steps taken by them, both intentional and unintentional, that have made the cars more comparable in cost over time to gasoline-powered cars. Additionally, tax credits of up to $7,500 for buying electric vehicles were also granted by 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act for those who purchase the cars.Timmer says that the cars align with the city’s values and encourages residents to consider buying them.”This grant funding is a testament to our commitment to creating a more sustainable future for Fairfield.” City Manager Scott Timmer said in a statement announcing the grant. “By strategically installing stations near commercial areas, we are encouraging EV adoption and supporting local businesses, creating a more sustainable and vibrant community.”
The city of Fairfield announced that they have received a funding grant of nearly half a million dollars to install electric vehicle charging stations within the city.
The city says that the stations will be implemented in three different commercial areas within city limits.
This comes as the city’s leaders stood united on Friday in pushing for greater electric vehicle adoption across Fairfield.
“We are thrilled to receive this grant from OKI (the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments),” said Nick Dill, city engineer of Fairfield, who led the grant writing process. “This funding will allow us to install charging stations at strategic locations, making it easier for residents and visitors to transition to electric vehicles.”
Adam Sackenheim, Fairfield’s assistant city manager for infrastructure, agreed.
“This project is a significant step forward in achieving our sustainability goals,” said Sackenheim. “By expanding our charging infrastructure, we are not only reducing emissions but also improving air quality and enhancing our community’s livability.”
Despite the announcement, there is no word yet on where specifically in Fairfield the three charging station locations will be built.
Fairfield City Manager Scott Timmer says that the implementation of these stations will help to advance the city’s Fairfield Sustains program, which he describes as “a comprehensive roadmap designed to ensure Fairfield maximizes its resources, addresses environmental, economic, and livability considerations, and improves quality of life for all residents.”
The charging stations have become increasingly common in the tri-state in recent years, in part due to billions in funding allocated by Congress in 2021 for the express purpose of building them nationwide.
Still, electric vehicle ownership in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana has lagged behind other regions of the country, according to U.S. Department of Energy statistics.
Ohio recorded 50,393 EV registrations at the end of 2023, while Indiana had 26,101 registrations, and Kentucky had 11,617 registrations.
Even though Ohio has the most registrations of the three states in the region, many other less-populated states than Ohio recorded more registrations in 2023. For example, states such as Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington have more registrations than Ohio, despite all being less populated states.
Still, Department of Energy Data shows that ownership has greatly increased year by year recently. Nationwide, electric vehicle ownership increased from 280,300 registrations in 2016 to 3,555,900 in 2023. Similar radical jumps in registration have been recorded between 2016 and 2023 in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky as well.
Experts say that this is due in part to how widespread the cars are now being manufactured by car companies, as well as steps taken by them, both intentional and unintentional, that have made the cars more comparable in cost over time to gasoline-powered cars.
Additionally, tax credits of up to $7,500 for buying electric vehicles were also granted by 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act for those who purchase the cars.
Timmer says that the cars align with the city’s values and encourages residents to consider buying them.
“This grant funding is a testament to our commitment to creating a more sustainable future for Fairfield.” City Manager Scott Timmer said in a statement announcing the grant. “By strategically installing stations near commercial areas, we are encouraging EV adoption and supporting local businesses, creating a more sustainable and vibrant community.”