The city of Green goes ‘greener’ as city implements new vehicle charging stations

The city of Green took a step toward sustainability at the Dec. 14 city council meeting. The city obtained grant funds to install electric vehicle charging stations at the Central Administration Building. 

The Green City Council authorized the Mayor to establish a fee schedule for the electronic charging stations to be charged to and paid by the operator of any vehicle occupying a designated municipal charging parking space or using the directed equipment. 

The stations are one of many sustainable action plans the city has implemented to accommodate sustainable materials that may be owned/occupied by citizens, including two charging stations in May 2021. The Living Green Task Force, a sustainability-oriented committee that operates within the city of Green is committed to sustainable initiatives such as a community rain garden with operating rain barrels and an invasive species removal effort at Southgate Park.

Barbara Babbitt, council president, attended the invasive species event and said she  hopes to see the city come together for more sustainable practices.

Babbitt serves on the finance committee and oversaw the approval of the charging stations policy.

“Basically, this will allow for users of electrical vehicles to have more of an access to charging stations and possibly could drive people to put forth an interest in electric cars,” Babbitt said. “Paying for the electricity for the vehicle is much cheaper than paying for a full tank of gas, plus less strain on the environment.”

According to a study by the Institute for Electric Innovation and Edison Electric Institute, there will be an estimated 18.7 million electric vehicles (EVS) on the roads by 2030. EVS offer significant advantages over conventional vehicles, including greater energy efficiency, little or no tailpipe emissions, lower greenhouse gas emissions and the capacity to use greener sources of electricity to charge.

As Green continues to grow, not just in size but in capacity, local leaders and citizens are looking for new ways to keep the city updated and progressive. 

“Our Living Green Task Force really helps prioritize the long-term needs of the city, and allows for all of us to look at the bigger picture,” Babbitt said.