WMECo Bringing Vehicle Charging Stations to Western Mass.
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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Western Massachusetts Electric Co. is introducing electric-vehicle charging stations at three locations in its service territory as part of a plug-in electric vehicle research project sponsored by parent company Northeast Utilities.
Charging equipment has been installed at WMECo's Technology Park headquarters in Springfield and at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Hadley. A third location is planned for Pittsfield.
"We're taking steps now to study electricity usage in order to accommodate the coming wave of rechargeable electric vehicles. With the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles now in our region, we want to understand consumer charging patterns and preferences," Peter Clarke, WMECo president and chief operating officer, said in a press release.
"With the price of gasoline approaching $4 per gallon and the commonwealth facing a statutory greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, it's clear that electric vehicles are an important component of our low carbon future.
In fact, our Department of Energy Resources is currently reviewing grant applications from cities and towns across the state that are eager to install electric vehicle charging stations," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. "Western Massachusetts Electric Company's project will expand possible locations for this 'green' transportation option in western Massachusetts."
"We are truly excited to be able to offer this technology to our customers," said Sean D. Welch, general manager of Courtyard Marriott Hadley. "Partnering with WMECo to install the EV charger on-site enables us to continue to be on the cutting edge with respect to meeting our guest's needs," Welch said.
"Along with charging station research at customer locations, WMECo and our sister companies are testing Chevy Volts in collaboration with the Electric Power Research Institute," said Clarke. “Our goal is to increase our understanding of how recharging impacts the electric distribution system under a variety of conditions. We then can develop appropriate plans to support our customers' level of interest in EVs."
In addition to the charging stations in western Massachusetts, charging stations have been installed at NU company facilities in Hartford and Berlin, Conn., and Manchester, N.H. WMECo's sister company Connecticut Light & Power is planning to install roughly two dozen charging stations at customer locations in Connecticut.
WMECo and NU developed a new grassroots theme, "Plug My Ride," to help consumers and other groups promote awareness of electric transportation. More information is available at www.PlugMyRide.org.
