The City of Plymouth, Minnesota, recently announced a partnership with the Carbon Solutions Group (CSG) to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in city-owned parking spaces. In response to the buzz around this exciting project, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) and Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) hosted a virtual forum on December 2, 2021, with the City of Plymouth, CSG, and Xcel Energy. Over 70 attendees came to learn more and ask questions about the unique EV charging infrastructure initiative in Plymouth.
Installation and maintenance costs were the main barriers to EV charging infrastructure adoption for Plymouth. The city described how, by partnering with CSG, they can save staff time and remove all financial risk of EV charging infrastructure installation. They will benefit from 115 charging stalls at 14 city locations as well as three city fleet vehicles, while saving approximately $2 million from infrastructure buildout costs. The City of Plymouth consulted its Environmental Quality Committee, which reviews and considers initiatives that the City Council presents.
CSG is open to partnering with a variety of different entities, including any sized community regardless of utility territory, companies, multi-unit dwellings, and others to install a combination of Level 2 and DC Fast Chargers.
Jody McDevitt, Sales Director of CSG’s partner Energy Management Solutions, explained that CSG’s EV Charging Program utilizes federal tax credits, local utility’s programs and rebates, and renewable energy certificates (RECs) to offer no capital or operational costs to the host community. Additionally, entities have the opportunity to earn a profit from a monthly license fee or profit-sharing payment. CSG takes 100 percent of the risk if the program does not prove viable.
McDevitt shared that CSG is looking for parking spots to install and operate chargers. Since Plymouth is in Xcel Energy territory, CSG can take full advantage of their Public Charging EV Service Pilot program. Xcel Energy’s program covers the upfront costs of infrastructure buildout (service conductor, meter, panel, and dedicated circuit from the transformer to the charger) and essentially provides a make-ready service right up to the charger, saving the customer significant costs.
Xcel Energy has a variety of EV-related programs, including the Fleet EV Service Program, Public Charging EV Service Pilot, and new multifamily housing charging program. If Xcel Energy is your service provider, you can explore its programs online to see if they are right for your EV charging needs.
The webinar can be viewed below and on GPI’s YouTube Channel. The forum speakers answered many common questions. If you have additional questions about CSG’s EV Charging Program, please contact Jody McDevitt at [email protected] with the Energy Management Solutions and Carbon Solutions Group.
