Achi news desk-
A community just south of Calgary is among eight municipalities in Canada that will have new charging stations installed as part of Canada’s Earth Day campaign.
Insurance provider Aviva Canada is behind the initiative, called Charged for Change, which aims to bring electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to Canada from coast to coast.
Okotoks, Alta., 45 kilometers south of Calgary, is one of the recipients in the second year of the program.
“Aviva Canada is taking action on climate change and helping to build stronger, more resilient communities by investing in public charging stations,” the company said in a statement, adding that access to such stations can be a barrier often for residents considering buying an EV. .
“That’s why we worked with Earth Day Canada to create Charged for Change, a program that will fund public electric vehicle (EV) charging installations in communities across Canada that have limited or no access to EV infrastructure,” said Aviva.
The funding will help build Level 2 EV charging stations, the most common type of charger in public spaces.
In 2023, the first year of the three-year program, the company said 37 charging points had been installed.
Earth Day Canada, an organization that promotes conservation and helps individuals, municipalities and organizations reduce their impact on the environment, says it is grateful for the commitment made by Aviva.
“The collective shift to electromobility is a key part of the global climate change solution,” said executive director Valerie Mallamo in a statement.
He said the installation of electric vehicle chargers in rural municipalities increases opportunities and reduces some of the doubts residents have about the technology.
The Town of Okotoks says the grant announcement is a “great step” for the community.
There is no written agreement for the installation, officials said, but it is hoped that construction could begin by the summer at least.
A spokesperson said the town has two EV chargers at the public library and one at Okotoks town hall, so adding more, including partially paid for ones, will make it much better for the community.
Interested municipalities can apply for year three funding in the fall.
