EMORY UNIVERSITY RECEIVES $225,000 GRANT FROM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
TO FUND CHARGERS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
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Emory University's goal of developing alternatives to the automobile received a major boost recently when the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the university $225,000 to fund quick-charging stations for electric vehicles. The chargers, which will be located in a new parking deck currently under construction at the University Apartments complex on Clairmont Rd., will be used to power electric shuttles to transport employees and students to and from the main campus. In addition, 50 individual chargers will be available for anyone who wishes to drive his or her own electric vehicle to campus.
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Georgia Power has loaned Emory President Bill Chace an electric vehicle for his use. |
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Emory, along with Georgia Power and Clean Cities Atlanta, received the grant from the DOE through the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority. The money is packaged in an 80 percent-20 percent matching grant-Emory's portion is basically figured into the parking deck's construction costs. Georgia Power and Clean Cities Atlanta will offer in-kind services for their part, including the installation of the charging stations at the University Apartments deck. Cheryle Crumley, Emory's director of alternative transportation, said she hopes to use the DOE money to purchase up to four fast-charging stations for the shuttle buses. These units are capable of refueling a bus up to full charge within 15 minutes, she said. She added that the university is currently exploring funding options for the shuttles themselves. The rest of the money will be used for individual charging stations, available to anyone who comes to the campus. "They can support well over 100 electric vehicles on campus," Crumley says. "Anyone who comes to Emory in an electric car can park in that deck while they're doing business and have their vehicle recharged while they're here." Emory President William M. Chace currently is driving an electric Toyata RAV4-EV that was lent to him in May by Georgia Power. Although not many people own electric cars right now, Emory's electric deck is more an investment in the future. "The bottom line is the technology and the infrastructure will be there," Crumley says "Once the community gets to a point where there is a demand, we will be prepared." Emory's grant is part of nearly $17 million in federal funding recently awarded to 45 states and the District of Columbia for 168 projects that "will help improve energy efficiency of schools, homes and office buildings," according to a news release. "These grants underscore the productive relationship between the Department of Energy and state energy offices around the country," said U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson. "I am pleased we were able to fund solid, important projects which will help create a cleaner environment and a stronger economy through the increased use of energy-efficient technologies." Washington is not the only capitol where air quality problems are being discussed. Thirteen metro Atlanta counties fail to meet federal clean air standards, effectively halting billions in federal transportation dollars to the state. The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) has asked Atlanta-area organizations involved in air quality and traffic congestion issues, including the Clifton Corridor Transportation Management Association (CCTMA), to gather and share their programs and information. Crumley, who serves as CCTMA's executive director, said FHA plans to analyze
how federal dollars allocated to air quality improvements and traffic
mitigation are being used. CCTMA receives federal Congestion Mitigation/Air
Quality (CMAQ) funds. In addition to Emory, CCTMA members include
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Cancer
Society, and other major employers in the area who are working together
to alleviate traffic congestion by offering employees programs such
as RideShare and incentives to take public transportation.
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Last Update - January 2, 2000
