Ron Fonger
mlive.com
(TNS)
FLINT, MI — The city that has played a key role in the production of gasoline-powered vehicles is making plans to add the first electric vehicles to its municipal fleet and new charging stations for residents.
The Flint City Council gave initial approval on Wednesday, Feb. 5, to accepting a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and to purchase and install six EV charging stations with two dedicated for public use in the area around City Hall.
Seamus Bannon, the city’s grants management officer, told council members initial plans called for using up to $144,050 to simply increase charging-station access for residents.
“But in speaking with the administration, there was seen a need and a desire to move toward some potential electrification of our fleet, including police and fire,” Bannon said. “This is the starting point toward that.”
A resolution to accept the grant and to purchase and install the equipment calls for two charging stations at both the downtown police and fire stations and for adding two others for public use downtown.
Bannon’s written staff review says the purchase is expected to improve air quality, increase access to EV charging, reduce transportation costs, and boost economic development.
“The hope is that we’ll have people park there, go downtown, spend some money downtown in the shops, come back, and be able to charge their car and go on with their business,” Bannon said.
The grants officer said he didn’t have information yet about the cost of using the chargers or confirmed locations.
City officials said the police and fire charging stations are expected to be used for non-patrol or emergency response vehicles.
Council members agreed during Wednesday’s Finance Committee meeting to send the proposal to the full council for a final vote as early as next week.
The initial cost of the electrical service upgrade is $92,223 and the city has proposed making the purchase from Weinstein Electric Company, Flint’s current vendor for electrical services.
“Either we get involved or we get left behind,” 6th Ward Councilwoman Tonya Burns said of the plan. “We have to embrace it.”
Burns was one of seven council members who voted to move forward with the proposal.
4th Ward Councilwoman Judy Priestley cast the lone vote against the charging stations, saying city government doesn’t need to be involved in the electricity business.
“It’s not the government’s business to charge for energy usage,” Priestley said. “People can barely afford their gasoline-powered cars. They can’t afford to buy the electric vehicles. I can’t afford to buy an electric vehicle.”
Seventh Ward Councilwoman Candice Mushatt called the additional charging stations “an amazing opportunity for Flint.”
“We’re not forcing anyone to buy electric vehicles,” Mushatt said. “It’s not like this says we’re going to get rid of all the gas stations in the city.”
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