During the most recent meeting of the Ft Payne City Council, Mike Shirey, Manager of the Ft Payne Improvement Authority (FPIA), spoke to the council regarding installation of electric charging stations for vehicles in the City.  He stated that grant money was available through the Alabama Department of Economic & Community Affairs (ADECA) for implementation of the chargers, but the grant application must be submitted by the end of March.  

Guidelines to receive that grant include: drivers having access around the clock, in a well-lit area with restrooms available, and within walking distance to restaurants.  ADECA requires two spaces be available for charging with expansion for up to two more spaces.  

The specifics of the ADECA plan would be having chargers in 50-mile increments across the state – I-59 falls into the Tier II plan, with a charging station being within a five-mile radius of exits 218 and 222.  The vacant lot at the corner of 5th Street and Gault was discussed as a place to house those chargers.  

The projected cost of the two stations would be $122,000 which would include installation, transformers, and electrician support.

TVA has agreed to donate those chargers with the Improvement Authority doing the labor. The City of Ft Payne would supply the improvements to the lot.  The chargers would carry a five-year warranty which is to renew at an approximate price of $25,000 to 30,000. 

Fees for the charging station would be set at 31 cents a minute and would take between ten minutes and an hour to complete the charge.  Stations would work on all-electric cars, with the exception of Telsa, which require a super-charging station with most having adapters to work with other charging stations.

After discussion – the Council granted approval for the Ft Payne Improvement Authority to apply for the grant.

(Southern Torch/www.southerntorch.com)