Downtown St. Pete Adds 12 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Downtown St. Petersburg is keen on going green: The City recently welcomed a handful of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations.

Home to the only electrical vehicle dealer in Florida, 12 new charging stations were recently installed throughout greater downtown St. Pete as part of the city's Green City initiative. St. Pete Public Works Administrator Mike Connors presided over the partnership.

“It's a proud day for St. Petersburg toward preserving the environment and continuing our green mission,” says St. Pete Mayor Bill Foster.

Designated by the Florida Green Building Coalition as the first city in Florida to become a “Green City, ” St. Pete is home to several environmental education resources such as Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, Sunken Gardens and Weedon Island Preserve.

The area also features several renowned environment initiatives including a successful Mulch and Soil Builder Program and one of the country's largest reclaimed water systems.

At just 40 cents per hour, the City of St. Pete and the Dali Museum are covering the cost of charging during the stations' introductory phase. The charging stations can accommodate up to two vehicles at a time, featuring the charging capacity of either a 110- or 220-volt charge.

With 10 of 12 installations funded by ChargePoint America through a grant from the Department of Energy as a part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, the other two stations were independently installed by the Dali Museum.

Currently, Florida is home to 553 electric vehicle charging stations. St. Pete has plans to install six more throughout the city.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: St. Pete Mayor Bill Foster