CMP Awards More Grants for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment
CMP News
Central Maine Power Company, 83 Edison Drive, Augusta, ME 04336 (207) 622-NEWS
Corporate Communications - corpcomm@cmpco.com
Release: Immediate
September 10, 2015
CMP Awards More Grants for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment
Utility Will Announce Recipients Sunday in South Portland at National Drive Electric Week Celebration
AUGUSTA, Maine Central Maine Power Co., a subsidiary of Iberdrola USA, has chosen three more non-profit organizations to receive funding for the purchase and installation of plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging equipment. The winners will be announced Sunday at National Drive Electric Week festivities at the South Portland Community Center.
The grants are the latest in several rounds of awards designed to expand the use of electric vehicles in Maine. Since the program was launched in 2013, CMP has awarded 25 organizations nearly $210,000 to help with the purchase or lease of a PEV and/or to install charging stations. CMP's program has added 18 PEVs to Maine roads, and new charging stations are going on line in key locations around central and southern Maine.
Our latest round of grants will put charging infrastructure in new locations, and we're especially excited to celebrate with people who are so enthusiastic about electric vehicle technology, said Sara J. Burns, president and CEO of CMP. "This new charging infrastructure represents another step toward broader adoption of electric vehicles and their associated environmental benefits across Maine."
In addition to CMP's grant program, the Iberdrola USA Foundation provided the Greater Portland Council of Governments with $50,000 in August to help various cities, towns, and businesses install PEV charging station technology. To date, this initiative has put seven new charging stations online three in the City of Portland, and one each in Raymond, Falmouth, New Gloucester, and Windham. The Foundation expects to fund a total of 18 charging stations including additional installations in Auburn, Augusta, Bridgton, Cape Elizabeth, Freeport, Portland, Yarmouth and other communities.
CMP's support of expanded PEV charging infrastructure extends to public policy initiatives. This year, the 127th Maine Legislature enacted, with CMP's support, L.D. 593, An Act To Allow the Resale of Electricity by Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. The new law takes effect this fall and allows electric vehicle charging station hosts to recover the cost of electricity PEV operators use at their facilities.
Two Chevy Volts at CMP are among more than 80 passenger PEVs/hybrids in Iberdrola USA's fleet. The company also has 13 hybrid bucket trucks in its three utility operating companies in Maine and New York. In September of 2014, Iberdrola USA announced an agreement with the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) to spend a portion of its annual fleet acquisition budget on PEVs and equipment.
National Drive Electric Week celebration happens Sunday in South Portland
CMP is one of several Maine organizations supporting National Drive Electric Week's annual celebration this Sunday, Sept. 13, from noon to 5 p.m. at the South Portland Community Center on Nelson Road. The event will showcase many makes and models of PEVs currently on the market, with some dealers and owners offering test drives. Also on display and available for public use at no charge are on-site electric vehicle charging stations, including a Clipper Creek dual-connector Level II and Nissan DC fast charger.
Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Media Contact:
Gail Rice
207.622.NEWS
###
About Central Maine Power Company (CMP): Central Maine Power Company, a subsidiary of Iberdrola USA, is Maine's largest electricity transmission and distribution utility. The company delivers about 9 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually to more than 600,000 homes and businesses, representing about 80% of Maine's annual consumer sales of electricity. J.D. Power and Associates has ranked the company #1 in customer satisfaction seven times. For more information, visit www.cmpco.com.
About Iberdrola USA: Iberdrola USA is the U.S. subsidiary of global energy leader Iberdrola, S.A. The Iberdrola USA companies employ about 5,000 people with operations in 24 states from New England to the West Coast, providing electricity generation, transmission and distribution, natural gas storage and distribution, and energy services. For more information, please visit our website: www.iberdrolausa.com. Follow us on Twitter: @IberdrolaUSA