(Photo: The Canadian Press)

By Justin Goulet

Federal investment to result in over 100 new EV chargers in Alberta

Feb 2, 2022 | 11:08 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A new investment from the federal government will result in the installation of over 100 electric vehicle (EV) chargers across Alberta.

The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, the federal Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance made the announcement on behalf of Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson Wednesday morning. The $2 million investment in the SouthGrow Regional Initiative will support the installation of up to 110 EV chargers in the province.

The project will be funded through Natural Resources Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP).

The SouthGrow Regional Initiative will select recipients through a process based on demand. All EV chargers will be installed in public places, multi-use residential buildings, on streets, at workplaces or in facilities for servicing light-duty vehicle fleets by December of 2023.

Boissonnault stated this investment is a part of the federal government’s commitment to tackle climate change. He said that, “the transportation sector has been critical to that vision and it has to be, because about 25 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector, and three-quarters of those emissions come from just two sources – passenger cars and trucks and heavy duty vehicles.”

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“We simply have to reduce those emissions if we’re going to get to net-zero by 2050.”

Since 2015, the federal government has invested $1 billion to make EVs more affordable and charging stations more accessible for Canadians. Investments nation-wide include establishing “a coast-to-coast network of fast chargers”, providing rebates of up to $5,000 to help more Canadians purchase electric vehicles as well as “an immediate 100 per cent write-down for businesses buying these very same vehicles.”

Ottawa’s goal is to ensure all new passenger vehicles sold in Canada are zero-emission by 2035.

Boissonnault said, “I know we’re up to the challenge, from a regulatory perspective, from a consumer perspective and from a manufacturing perspective, we can get this done.”

He added that, “this is how we deliver real change.”

“I’m seeing it in my own riding [Edmonton Centre] – more and more public chargers being installed and we’re seeing it now come to fruition in south-central Alberta.”

To help deliver this project, SouthGrow has teamed with the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC). The MCCAC is a partnership of Alberta Municipalities, Rural Municipalities of Alberta and the provincial government.

Peter Casurella, Executive Director of SouthGrow said, “SouthGrow and the MCCAC are planning to collaborate on program application and delivery through a one-window approach.”

“This means that our municipalities will be eligible for provincial matching funds that may fund up to the full cost of purchasing and installing EV charging stations. Institutions and businesses in SouthGrow communities will get first access to partial funding before the program opens up province-wide.”

SouthGrow communities include:

• City of Lethbridge,
• Lethbridge County
• Village of Arrowwood
• Blood Tribe
• Town of Bow Island
• Town of Cardston
• Cardston County
• Village of Carmangay
• Village of Champion
• Town of Claresholm
• Town of Coaldale
• Town of Coalhurst
• Village of Coutts
• Village of Foremost
• County of Forty Mile
• Village of Lomond
• Town of Magrath
• MD of Taber
• Town of Milk River
• Village of Milo
• Town of Nobleford
• Town of Picture Butte
• Town of Raymond
• Village of Stirling
• Town of Taber
• Town of Vauxhall
• Town of Vulcan
• Vulcan County
• Village of Warner
• Warner County

Chairperson of SouthGrow and mayor of Coutts, Jim Willett said, “SouthGrow is very pleased to deliver this program on behalf of Natural Resources Canada.”

“The electric vehicle transition is well underway, and SouthGrow has been working hard to ensure that our region is prepared to embrace and accommodate industry changes and to provide new economic opportunities for the people of Southern Alberta.”

Willett added, “this program represents a significant step in furthering our regional goals to position Southern Alberta for economic growth and prosperity throughout the 21^st century.”

The federal government notes that to date, over 125,000 Canadians and national businesses have taken advantage of the federal incentive to purchase a zero-emission vehicle.

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