Press Release
(Atlantic) The City of Atlantic was one of seven Iowa communities to be awarded an EECBG (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant) grant this year. The grant will be used to install the first public EV charging stations in Cass County. The City of Atlantic in partnership with AMU, CADCO, and the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, submitted the grant application this past summer.
The charging station will be installed in the city parking lot near the AMU office. The location was chosen due to its proximity to many downtown amenities, such as Shopping, Dining, the City Park, and second-story downtown housing units, which would not be able to charge vehicles “at home”.
This location also had excellent infrastructure already in place from AMU, allowing for a cost-effective solution. Atlantic EV Charging Station Facts:
· Site will be capable of Level 3 charging to both CCS and NACS vehicles, covering all brands of EVs being produced today. This can charge a typical EV battery from 10% to 80% in around 30-40 minutes, depending on the vehicle.
· Four Destination Level 2 chargers, which can charge a typical EV from 0 to 100% in around 8 hours.
· EV Users can conveniently pay for charging via commonly used apps and automatic integration with vehicles from GM, Ford, and Tesla.
· Electronic signage will be used to direct visitors to amenities located within walking distance of the charging station.
“Economic progress can come in many forms, renewable energy being one of them. Our CADCO Board understands the importance of such improvements, and we are excited to be a part of it! Scott Bennett, with NISHNANET, and Steve Tjepkes, with Atlantic Municipal Utilities, were instrumental in seeing this project happen,” said Jennifer McEntaffer, Cass/Atlantic Development Corp.
“Whether it’s residents running errands or visitors exploring the area, this project offers both convenience and a reason to linger and spend locally. This kind of infrastructure not only meets a growing need, but it also invites new economic activity,” said Kelsey Beschorner, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce
“Atlantic takes great pride in the continuous revitalization of our downtown business area. These charging stations will make us unique in Cass County, ” said John Lund, City Administrator. Being midway between Omaha and Des Moines makes the location ideal for EV owners as a rest and recharging stop, but also for us to welcome new visitors that may not have stopped in Atlantic otherwise. Additionally, it will serve our residents who also own electric vehicles.”
“NISHNANET uses Electric and ethanol-powered vehicles to reliably service our customers, always using the best vehicle for the job. Both solutions allow us to keep our fuel expenditures as “local” as possible. We are excited to have an additional option to charge our fleet of EV vehicles we use every day in Cass County,” said Scott Bennett NISHNANET.
