CARSON CITY, NV -
May 30, 2017The
Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy (GOE) and Lincoln County Power District No.
1 are announcing the most recent expansion of the state’s electric vehicle (EV)
charging network.
Located at the McCrosky Y-Service Station on
U.S. Highway 93 in Panaca, the charging station officially launches Phase II of
the Nevada Electric Highway, a GOE-led initiative that seeks to electrify major
highway corridors throughout the state.
The
Panaca charging station was designed and built by Lincoln County Power District
(LCPD) No. 1, an electric co-op that provides power to Panaca and other eastern
Nevada communities.
“The
(McCrosky Y-Service) station will benefit those wanting to spend time in
Lincoln County,” explained David Luttrell, General Manager of LCPD. “We have
multiple state parks in the county, including Cathedral Gorge State Park which
is located just a few miles from the charging station. We are also becoming
known as a destination for mountain bike enthusiasts. This EV charging station
will enhance the desirability of our area for visitors.”
The
station consists of one Direct Current (DC) Fast Charger and two Level 2
Chargers. DC Fast Chargers can charge a vehicle in less than an hour. Level 2
chargers typically require several hours for a full charge. The station is
covered in order to provide additional protection for the vehicles and charging
equipment from the elements. Like all Nevada Electric Highway charging
stations, the McCrosky Y-Service station is available 24 hours a day and free
to use for five years.
Nevada Electric
Highway Background
The Nevada Electric Highway started as a partnership
between the GOE and NV Energy to install EV charging stations at cost-effective
and strategic locations along US 95, eliminating range anxiety for travelers
between the urban centers of Reno and Las Vegas while also bringing business to
rural communities. Phase I of the Nevada Electric Highway is nearly complete. Last
year, two of the four planned charging stations along the highway went
operational in the communities of Beatty and Fallon, and two more are planned
for completion this year.
“The
expansion of the Nevada Electric Highway is part of a broader effort to help
meet our goal to become the nation’s leading producer and consumer of clean and
renewable energy,” said Angela Dykema, Director of the Nevada Governor’s Office
of Energy. “Nevada has a wealth of
domestic renewable resources like geothermal and solar, and transitioning our
transportation infrastructure to accommodate electric vehicles will lessen our dependency
on out-of-state resources, which accounts for over a third of the energy
consumed in Nevada.”
The
Nevada Electric Highway is identified as a priority for the Silver State in
Nevada’ Strategic Planning Framework, 2016-2020, and also compliments regional
and national efforts. By creating electrified corridors through Nevada,
thousands of EVs that currently operate along the West Coast won’t be hemmed in
by the region’s vast geographical expanses. Nevada has rightly been called the “Gateway
East,” and electrifying its highways will connect the thriving California EV
market to tourist destinations in Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, Utah, and beyond. In
2016, the Federal Highway Administration designated I-80, I-15, US 95 and US 50
across Nevada as signage-pending Alternative Fuel Corridors, further
illustrating the need for EV infrastructure investments along these highways
which provide essential connectivity across the region.
The
Nevada Electric Highway is part of a coordinated effort among the governors of
western states to facilitate electric vehicle travel. In December 2016, the
Governor Sandoval joined the governors of Colorado and Utah in an announcement
to develop complementary plans for building an EV charging network across key
highway corridors in their states. The corridors include Interstates 70, 76 and
25 across Colorado; Interstates 70, 80 and 15 across Utah; and Interstates 80
and 15 across Nevada. In total, the charging network will connect more than
2,000 miles of highway.
Nevada
Electric Highway funding comes from many sources. GOE uses funds from its State
Energy Program Formula Grant, an annual source of funds from the U.S. Department
of Energy. GOE and the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection intend to utilize
Volkswagen settlement money on EV charging infrastructure along Nevada’s
highways and Electrify America, Volkswagen’s wholly owned subsidiary, is also establishing
a network of EV charging stations along major U.S. interstates including
Nevada’s Interstates 15 and 80. Lastly, Nevada’s electric utilities and co-ops
provide labor and materials during the construction of the charging stations.
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About the Governor's Office of Energy
The Governor's Office of Energy oversees energy programs required through statute and those that help to meet the mission of the office, which is to ensure the wise development of Nevada's energy resources in harmony with local community economic needs and Nevada natural resources. For more information about GOE, please visit
energy.nv.gov.
About Lincoln County Power District No. 1
Lincoln
County Power District No. 1 (LCPD) was created in 1935 after the Nevada State
Legislature passed an act that provided for the creation of power districts.
Today, LCPD No. 1 distributes power from the Colorado River Commission of
Nevada and other sources, and serves an area in excess of 10,000 square miles
in Lincoln and Clark Counties. For more information about LCPD No. 1, please
visit www.lcpd1.com.