Funding is being sought to create the Northwest Alberta Electric Vehicle Charging Network

Whitecourt Town Council recently voted on whether to sign a site access letter to allow a charging station for electric vehicles to be placed in the parking lot behind the legion. The town-owned parking area could feature two plug-in spots. During their late June meeting, Council heard about the project and what cost there might be to residents.

Economic Development Officer Rhonda Hough explained that the EVentures Northwest AB project is a partnership consisting of eight municipalities, each with representatives on an advisory committee. The municipalities are Whitecourt, Edson, Hinton, Edmonton, Rocky Mountain House, Drayton Valley, Grande Prairie, and the MD of Greenview. “The EVenture Project parties have been strongly advocating for funding over the last couple of years to support an electric vehicle charging network in this end of Alberta,” she said.

Hough explained that a similar project had taken place successfully in southern Alberta, Peaks to Prairies, and was fully funded. “We had contracted the Community Energy Association to help design the network and implement and advocate for funding.” With a recent announcement for funding that could support the program fully through the NRCan Zero Emissions Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP), Hough said the Economic Development Committee decided it was time to get the project in front of Council to find a suitable site.

“We did a bit of a workshop looking at sites with the Community Energy Association and with the other communities. The Economic Development Committee wanted to focus on downtown as extra support to adding that foot traffic. We are looking at 4923 52 Avenue for the site location that would host two stations, one at 100 kilowatts and one no less than 50. They always recommend two together in case one is getting maintenance or if one is down,” she explained.

As the main stop between Edmonton and Grande Prairie, it was noted in the meeting RFD that Council and town staff had been approached about charging stations in the community. The benefits outlined included the expectation that electric vehicle usage would reach 30 percent globally by 2030 and that the need for charging stations would increase along with that growth. Another benefit was the added foot traffic in downtown Whitecourt of customers stopping to charge their vehicles as they travel. By working regionally, the group can access better funding opportunities.

“The program requires 50 percent matching funding which will go through an RFP process, and that successful component would own and operate the infrastructure for ten years. There’s no cost, maintenance, or installation to the municipality other than a site access agreement to be able to access the site to install and maintain,” said Hough.

Councillor Tara Baker asked how big the charging station would be. Mayor Tom Pickard said it was similar to a gas pump. “It’s not overly large,” explained Hough. “It’s a little smaller footprint than you would have for a gas station. You need one parking stall for a vehicle to pull in and park. I don’t know if you’ve been down by the new St. Joseph’s School, but they have three in their parking lot, and it just takes single parking stalls up.”

Councillor Derek Schlosser said he was happy to see the initiative coming as a coordinated effort. Councillor Paul Chauvet was concerned with municipalities “getting involved in infrastructure.” He recognized that it would be grant-funded but said, “it’s all tax-payer funded at the end of the day.” He was also concerned that corporations like Walmart weren’t implementing stations themselves.

Mayor Pickard received clarification that there wouldn’t be a cost to the community and that providing access to the parking lot space was the only tie-in. “We’re going to put one in a parking lot and give site access.” He then asked who would own it after the ten-year contract was up. “You can choose to re-sign the contract to continue using it or ask them to remove it. It’s completely the town’s control and decision on what happens in ten years,” Hough said.

Councillor Baker spoke about a family conversation as to why she was happy to see a charging station come to town. “There’s another municipality that has one of these, and I was choked when someone in my family said they were passing through Whitecourt because they had to go to that place to go and fill it up. I see this as an opportunity to be on an equal playing field with adjacent municipalities that have it.” The majority of Council voted to approve the funding application and the provision of a site access letter.