Lt. Gov. Barnes, MGE push for more electric vehicle charging stations
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes on Monday said he thinks a provision in Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal will help encourage electric vehicle ownership and reduce carbon emissions throughout Wisconsin.
Barnes visited Madison Gas & Electric to learn about the utility’s electric vehicle charging stations, drive an electric Chevrolet Bolt and discuss the governor’s budget with MGE officials.
In his spending plan, released last month, Evers proposed allocating 40 percent — or $10 million — of the remaining funds from a settlement with Volkswagen over its emissions cheating scandal toward installing electric vehicle charging stations throughout the state. The remaining $15 million would fund the replacement of public transit vehicles.
MGE director of legislative affairs John Sumi said that’s “what the court settlement was meant to fund.”
“If we have that infrastructure in place we could encourage more electric vehicle ownership, which would go a great deal to help us cut down emissions in the state,” Barnes said after meeting with MGE officials.
MGE has 32 public charging stations located throughout Madison, at a cost of $2 per hour or $5 per hour depending on the charging speed. The utility will also fund the installation of a home charging station; users then pay a monthly fee of $20 plus the cost of electricity. Several businesses and apartment buildings in Madison also offer charging stations.
The Chevy Bolt that Barnes drove on Monday gets about 238 miles per charge, said MGE new market manager Debbie Branson.
Source: madison
