SUNY New Paltz Gets Charged

EV Stations Photo by Harris Yudin

By Harris Yudin

SUNY New Paltz now has three dual-port ChargePoint electric vehicle (EV) charging stations around campus, allowing for six parking spaces, each with lines painted green, dedicated to electric cars.

According to Lisa Mitten, campus sustainability coordinator at SUNY New Paltz, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has provided funding for all public universities statewide. The funding is part of New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Charge NY plan, which aims to support the rapid growth of electrically-powered cars in New York.

In an effort headed by energy management coordinator Brian Pine, SUNY New Paltz took advantage of this funding and began to implement its own EV movement.

In choosing the location for the charging stations, the Facilities Management team chose areas that were easy to bring in electricity. There are two charging stations (four parking spots) in the Elting Main Parking Lot between Elting Gym and the Sojourner Truth Library, and a third (two additional spots) in the Route 32 Lot across from the Student Union.

The charging stations were operational in December, according to Mitten, and a campus media blast was sent out in early February to bring awareness to the parking spots.

Although the Facilities Management team was responsible for bringing the EV charging stations to New Paltz, Campus Auxiliary Services is responsible for administration and managing of day-to-day operations of charging stations.

With such a small number of spots altered, concerns of taking away from the already limited parking availability on campus are non-existent, Mitten said.

According to Mitten, as the cost of electric cars decreases and they become more competitive, the university plans to take part in that growing culture.

“We hope that this will challenge faculty and staff, even students, to consider electrics vehicles as an option,” she said.

According to Pine, the plan is to expand the number of spots dedicated to electric vehicles within the Route 32 lot.

SUNY Buffalo and SUNY Stony Brook also have EV charging stations set up on their own campuses.

Harris Yudin

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