Vanessa Bernicky, Engineering Technologist, presented Smiths Falls’ town council with a recommendation to lease a dual-head electric vehicle charging station during Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting.
The proposed EV charging station would be placed in the municipal parking lot at the corner of Market Street and William Street East. Two vehicles could be charged simultaneously, and the town could choose to expand the amount of chargers in the lot in future, Bernicky explained.
Councillor McGuire thanked Bernicky for bringing this recommendation to council, adding, “we’ve been hoping to see this for a long time.”
Councillor Allen cheered the choice of charging location; “People can plug in and charge for a few hours, shop, have a nice meal, and enjoy our downtown.”
The town of Smiths Falls would lease the EV charging station at a ten-year term from IVY, a company owned jointly by OPG and Hydro One. IVY will provide the units and be responsible for installation, maintenance, gathering of payment, and removal at the end of the leasing term.
Council was unanimous in supporting this recommendation.