(Monticello, NY 4:00PM) – Sullivan County Manager Joshua Potosek is pleased to announce the immediate availability of funding for municipalities and public library districts for the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The Sullivan County Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Reimbursement Program, approved by the Sullivan County Legislature at its regular monthly board meeting, will provide financial assistance for projects located on property owned by a town, village, or public library district.
“This is an exciting program for Sullivan County, our towns, villages, and public library districts,” said Joshua Potosek, County Manager. “Electric vehicles have become a real possibility for many families not just in Sullivan County, but across the entire country. Batteries are becoming more sophisticated with longer driving ranges, the vehicles are becoming more practical for everyday use, and costs have come down to the point of being affordable. Electric vehicles will continue to increase their presence on our roads, and Sullivan County must be ready to accommodate them.”
The program aims to assist in the development of a robust network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout Sullivan County. Each legislative district will have access to a minimum of $5,000 for eligible projects, and the program has been seeded with $50,000. Applicants must be either a municipality of Sullivan County or a public library district operating within Sullivan County that is not a part of County government. Projects must be located within Sullivan County, and the location should advance the County’s goal of encouraging community and economic development.
“The intent is that these projects will be located on or near our main streets, which will encourage visitors to explore the many wonderful shops, restaurants and attractions that Sullivan County has to offer while their vehicles recharge,” said Catherine Owens, Chair of the Agriculture and Sustainability Policy Legislative Committee. “Electric vehicles and plug in hybrids provide an obvious benefit to our beautiful environment in that they significantly reduce emissions. I strongly believe that an investment in this infrastructure will be beneficial for both our environment as well as our local economy.”
The Sullivan County Office of Sustainability is available to provide assistance to municipalities interested in deploying electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including technical information as well as assistance with identifying potential locations.
“Sullivan County stands ready to assist its municipalities in preparing for a very bright future,” said Luis Alvarez, Chairman of the Sullivan County Legislature. “We must ensure that our County stays current with new and improved technology, and the adoption of this program demonstrates the willingness of the Sullivan County Legislature to be proactive as new opportunities present themselves.”
For more information about this program, please contact the Sullivan County Office of Sustainable Energy at (845) 807-0578, or email Heather Brown, Sustainability Coordinator, at heather.brown@sullivanny.us.
For more information about this press release, please contact the Sullivan County Manager’s Office at (845) 807-0450.
