Electrify America (EA), one of the largest EV charging providers in the United States, has broken ground on its massive, 75-megawatt (MW) “Solar Glow 1” photovoltaic project in San Bernardino County, California. The renewable energy plant built by Terra-Gen is expected to generate an estimated 225,000 megawatt-hours of energy per year upon completion at the end of the summer.
Rather than buying environmental certificates from a third-party supplier on an unbundled basis, EA is taking a different approach by purchasing and retiring all bundled environmental certificates associated with the new solar project over a 15-year period. This will do more to support additional renewable energy generation.
Rob Barrosa, vice president of technology at Electrify America, said that “Our customers can feel proud that every charge they make on our network is backed by 100% renewable energy, and today’s groundbreaking of Solar Glow 1 showcases our future and represents our company’s values.”
EA’s 15-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) is expected to make up for an estimated two million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, or the equivalent of planting nearly 40 million trees. Jigar Shah, EA’s head of energy services, said that “The groundbreaking of Solar Glow 1 is an important step towards additional annual renewable energy generation comparable to the energy used by over 20,000 American homes annually.”
Currently, EA operates 800 EV charging stations in the United States, with a total of almost 3,500 DC fast chargers and over 100 Level 2 chargers. The company plans to open 112 additional stations in the future, bringing the total to 912 stations country-wide. By comparison, Tesla operates around 1,600 Supercharger stations in the US.
EA’s groundbreaking of Solar Glow 1 is a major step forward in its commitment to sustainability and renewable energy. With its investment in this project, EA is helping to reduce carbon emissions and provide clean energy for EV charging across the United States.
FAQ
Q1: Are electric car batteries recyclable?
A1: Yes, electric car batteries are recyclable.
Q2: Are electric car chargers free?
A2: No, electric car chargers are not typically free.
Q3: Are electric car batteries dangerous?
A3: Yes, electric car batteries can be dangerous if not handled properly.
