Summary
– Indiana Office of Energy Development awarded a total of $1.47 million through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program
– Marshall County, City of Plymouth, City of Nappanee, and Town of Walkerton received a total of $578,987 for electric vehicle projects
– Marshall County will pilot two light-duty electric pickup trucks and install vehicle charging hardware
– City of Plymouth will add 3 electric trucks to the city fleet and evaluate their performance in different departments
– City of Nappanee and Town of Walkerton are also piloting electric vehicles for their respective departments, with the Walkerton police department putting the first all-electric pursuit-capable law enforcement vehicle into service in the region.
Article
The Indiana Office of Energy Development recently awarded four local governments, including Marshall County, the City of Plymouth, the City of Nappanee, and the Town of Walkerton, a total of $578,987 through the federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. This amount represents about 40% of the $1.47 million awarded by the agency as part of the program. The funds are intended to support energy efficiency and conservation initiatives within these communities.
These four projects are part of the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) electric vehicle pilot cohort. Together, the four grantees will be piloting a total of 8 all-electric vehicles, including two SUVs, 5 light-duty pickup trucks, and one vehicle outfitted for police service. This initiative is aimed at promoting the use of electric vehicles as a more sustainable transportation option for local governments.
Marshall County received a grant of $154,333 to pilot two light-duty electric pickup trucks in their County Highway operations. Additionally, funding will go towards installing vehicle charging hardware at the Highway Garage to support the project. The City of Plymouth was awarded $225,367 to add 3 more electric trucks to their city fleet, alongside the Ford F-150 Lightning already in use by the Parks department. The performance of these electric vehicles will be closely evaluated in different departments.
The City of Nappanee in Elkhart County received $127,225 to cover the full cost of piloting an electric SUV and electric pick-up truck for their Planning department. This initiative aims to expand the city’s fleet cost-effectively by providing alternative transportation options for city employees. The grant also includes funding for the installation of charging infrastructure to support the electric vehicles. The town of Walkerton in St. Joseph County was awarded $72,062 to purchase a pursuit-rated electric vehicle for police service. Walkerton will make a contribution towards the cost of upfitting the vehicle, which will be the first all-electric pursuit-capable law enforcement vehicle in the MACOG region.
Overall, these grants are part of a larger effort to promote energy efficiency and sustainability in local communities through the adoption of electric vehicles. By piloting these vehicles in various departments and services, these municipalities are taking significant steps towards reducing their carbon footprint and contributing to a cleaner environment. The success of these projects may also serve as a model for other communities looking to transition to more sustainable transportation options in the future.
Read the full article here