Massachusetts DPU Approves $395M for EV Make-Ready Programs

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) just approved $395 million in new funding to accelerate EV charging station deployment across the Commonwealth!

This long-awaited infrastructure investment will support “make-ready” EV programs delivered by three energy companies:

• Eversource Energy’s Phase II EV Program: $188 million over 4 years 

• National Grid’s Phase III EV Program: $206 million over 4 years

• Unitil EV Program: $998,000 over 5 years 

Thanks to this fresh infusion of state funding, charging stations (including DCFC equipment) can be purchased and/or installed at little-to-no cost to the site hosts. Eligible projects include public, workplace, fleet, municipal utility district (MUD), residential and Environmental Justice Community (EJC).

With a significant backlog of projects awaiting funding, you’ll have to act fast to get your piece of the pie. Let Voltrek guide you to victory! Our EV charging experts will help you breeze through the rebate application process as well as manage every aspect of your charging station project—from start to finish.

Start the new year strong by partnering with Voltrek! Connect with us now to get started.

National Grid and Eversource Energy Aim to Invest $470M in EV Infrastructure

Two major Massachusetts utilities are seeking to spend $470 million on programs to help the state reach its goal of electrifying its transportation system over the next decade.

The proposals from National Grid and Eversource Energy focus mainly on growing and improving EV charging infrastructure. Specific goals include installing nearly 14,000 new stations, putting electric school buses on the road, and supporting new electric car-sharing programs. Final approval is expected in mid-2022.

More details at Energy News Network here: https://bit.ly/3kLrF8m

National Grid Deploys Innovative EV Chargers in Melrose, MA

Voltrek CEO Kathleen Connors and Senior Electrical Designer Phil Iannazzi recently attended a ribbon-cutting event for this monumental project!

Our team’s installation of utility-pole-mounted chargers for electric vehicles is the FIRST project of its kind on the East Coast. This pilot program for National Grid will no doubt serve as a national model for making Level 2 charging infrastructure more affordable to deploy, as well as improve access and equitability in communities.

Several industry partners have helped to bring this project to fruition, including EVSE, LLC and AmpUp. We appreciate having their expertise and support with this endeavor!

Here’s a news release with further details about the project: http://ow.ly/WjIX50EFtG0

Voltrek Chosen for National Grid's Innovative Pilot Program in Melrose, MA

Voltrek, as National Grid’s lead contractor for deploying electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, is thrilled to participate in an innovative pilot program in Massachusetts.

Currently, our team is installing new EV charging stations onto wooden utility poles for the City of Melrose, a state-designated Green Community that plans to host 18 EV chargers total by the end of 2021. This unique configuration for charging stations has inherent technical and logistical challenges. It is not common practice in the United States and may be the first such undertaking in the New England region.

Voltrek is leveraging its extensive electrical expertise and relationships with trusted trade partners to provide swift, streamlined solutions to fulfill project expectations. Additionally, our goal is to devise highly efficient, cost-saving installation strategies for utility-pole-mounted charging stations that can be utilized on future National Grid projects.

There are many advantages to transforming utility poles into multifunctional pieces of infrastructure, especially in densely populated urban areas with limited space for standalone charging bays. Benefits include avoiding costly and disruptive excavation activities beneath streets and sidewalks, and easing the expansion of EV charging infrastructure in communities—including areas where there are logistical hurdles to installing standalone chargers.

The City of Melrose has a progressive goal to become a carbon-neutral community by 2050, which hinges on the widespread adoption of clean transportation options, among other initiatives. Making it easier and more affordable to add new EV charging infrastructure is paramount to achieving the city’s long-term sustainability initiatives.

In celebration of Earth Week 2021, the City of Melrose is hosting a series of social and educational events to drive green initiatives. This includes an electric vehicle parade taking place on Thursday, April 22. Voltrek representatives plan to be there!

Check out the city’s full list of Earth Day 2021 events here: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/mayor/earth-week-2021

Westborough Golf Club Now Offering Charging for Electric Vehicles

Here’s another “hole-in-one” project for the Voltrek team! Our crew successfully installed two ChargePoint CT4021 stations at the scenic Westborough Golf Club, a premier municipal golf course in Massachusetts.

Kudos to energy provider National Grid for offering financial incentives that covered much of the infrastructure installation costs on this project. There’s no doubt that patrons will appreciate the convenience of charging their electric vehicles while enjoying a relaxing day on the green!

Voltrek Gears Up to Install 9 New EV Chargers in Rockport, MA

It's official! Voltrek will soon be installing 9 electric vehicle (EV) chargers for the town of Rockport, Massachusetts. These new ChargePoint stations will be strategically located at four locations: Town Hall, the Town Hall Annex, Back Beach and the Transfer Station parking lots.

Congrats to Rockport's Green Community Task Force and National Grid for spearheading a project that could benefit both residents and the local tourism industry!

To learn more, check out this article in Gloucester Daily Times: http://ow.ly/g6bi50DBPMU

Voltrek Performs Turnkey Project at Munters Corporation

Thanks to sustainability-driven upgrades at the Munters Corporation campus in Amesbury, Massachusetts, 400+ employees now have access to five new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

Voltrek spearheaded the entire private installation, from design to managing the build-out of the dual-port ChargePoint terminals, which can charge up to 10 vehicles at any given time.

Additionally, Voltrek helped the client secure grants from the state as well as National Grid’s “make-ready” EV program, saving tens of thousands of dollars in upfront costs. In a recent interview with The Daily News, company spokespersons from Munters likened these incentives to winning the lottery. 😉

Are you looking to invest in an EV charging hub? Voltrek can help you navigate the entire process, start to finish! Reach out to us now for more details.

AEG Boston Event To Feature Voltrek CEO Kathleen Connors

Voltrek's fearless leader, Kathleen Connors, is excited to be one of the Breakout Room Leaders at this week's AEG Stakeholder Challenge for Boston!

The popular #AEGBoston event, hosted by Advanced Energy Group (AEG), is part of a quarterly competition that takes place in major cities across America and the Caribbean. The goal is to find practical, useful ways to leverage clean energy as a means to promote equity and resilience in communities.

Voltrek is proud to be a sponsor of Boston's Q4 event, which is 100% virtual and focuses on mobility and transportation solutions utilizing electric vehicles in commercial fleets. Stimulating brainstorming sessions led by Connors and other Breakout Room Leaders will allow attendees to collaborate on proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Boston. Also on the docket are special presentations from Verizon, National Grid, eIQ Mobility, Biogen and others.

Sound interesting and fun? It is! To reserve your spot at the next action-packed AEG event, follow this link: http://ow.ly/HaAL50CFEhi

Salem State University Adds Six New ChargePoint Stations

Just in time for the fall semester, Salem State University in Massachusetts has added six new dual-port electric vehicle (EV) charging stations!

Conveniently located right in front of the O'Keefe Center, the new ChargePoint stations serve 12 parking spots. This latest EV charger installation by Voltrek has almost tripled the on-campus EV charging capacity, with a total of 19 parking spots now available to university students, faculty and staff.

In addition to overseeing design and installation of the new charging stations, Voltrek assisted Salem State University with securing project funding from National Grid and the Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection. As a result, the university paid less than 3% of the project costs—savings which get passed along to students! Voltrek, one of the nation’s trailblazers in EV charging solutions, is also National Grid's lead contractor for EV infrastructure projects.

New ChargePoint Installation at Historic Nevins Memorial Library

The Voltrek team just completed a brand-new electric vehicle (EV) charging station project in its hometown of Methuen, MA—the first municipal-owned EV charging station in the city’s history.

Located at the historic Nevins Memorial Library, the dual-station installation is part of the ChargePoint network, one of the world’s largest and most advanced EV charging networks. Voltrek managed all planning, design and installation for the project, which was funded in part by the EV Charging Infrastructure Program sponsored by National Grid (a major utility for which Voltrek serves as the lead EV infrastructure contractor).

Voltrek’s founder and CEO, Kathleen Connors, says she is grateful for the opportunity to partner on a project that will be transformational for her local community. This milestone aligns with the city of Methuen’s commitment to build infrastructure that supports a sustainable economic future and ensures the area continues to thrive.

A news release with more project details can be viewed at https://bit.ly/2ZkHdoy.