The Metropolis of Oxford is poised to signal an settlement with the Tennessee Valley Authority to carry electrical car charging stations and a photo voltaic array to town.
The council is anticipated to approve the TVA Electrical Car Quick Charger Program Settlement at its Tuesday assembly.
In 2021, Oxford Utilities submitted grant requests to TVA and the Mississippi Division of Environmental High quality to put in an electrical car quick charging station within the metropolis’s service territory. This program was designed to create a community of charging stations each 50 miles alongside main corridors of the Tennessee Valley area.
Whereas there are few electrical automobile customers inside the metropolis, Oxford Utilities supervisor Rob Neely mentioned Oxford can cater to the vacationers or drivers who go by city.
“I don’t envision the principle consumer of the Oxford Utility quick charger to be native residents however electrical car homeowners who’re touring within the area and have to “re-fuel,” very similar to a service station on the freeway,” mentioned Neely. “In that very same method, the power consumed shall be charged to the EV proprietor on the time of charging. Essentially the most environment friendly method for native EV homeowners to cost their automobiles shall be at their properties.”
As soon as the settlement is signed and authorized, TVA will fund as much as $150,000 for 2 chargers, which covers three-fourths of the station’s price. MDEQ has listed Oxford Utilities as one among 22 recipients of a $50,000 grant wanted to fund the rest of the station. The price of the station shall be minimal for Oxford Utilities and our prospects.
The station is deliberate to be situated in or close to the downtown Oxford parking storage on account of the truth that it’s well-lit, safe, gives restrooms and buying choices close by. It might take anyplace from 20 minutes to an hour to totally cost an electrical car with a quick charger.
The Board of Aldermen may even permit Oxford Utilities to request proposals for a big photo voltaic array from photo voltaic builders in an effort to make Oxford a “forward-thinking group.” The service group goals to make use of its allotted 5% of wholesale flexibility granted by the TVA to buy power from a special supply.
“Oxford Utilities will buy the power generated by the photo voltaic array, which can offset an equal wholesale buy from TVA,” Neely mentioned. “It will generate financial savings for Oxford Utilities on our wholesale power invoice, and permit the utility to buy 3.335 megawatts of fresh, renewable power.”
As soon as the proposals are submitted to builders and reviewed, Oxford Utilities will return earlier than the board for its approval to maneuver ahead with the venture.
