National Grid : Program Enables Village of Ellicottville to Install EV Charging Stations

On May 31 National Grid EV Program Manager Whitney Skeans, left, joined Ellicottville Mayor John Burrell, at right, to celebrate the opening of the village's new parking lot, which includes EV charging stations.

The Village of Ellicottville, through National Grid's Electric Vehicle Make-Ready Program, has installed four Level 2 EV charging plugs in a new 125-car parking lot to be used by tourists, local business patrons, and area residents.

Ellicottville Mayor John Burrell said the new lot and EV chargers should bolster Ellicottville's already impressive infrastructure, noting that the village was recognized for having one of "America's Best Main Streets" by USA Today in April. The publication cited the community's picturesque main street, charming village and historic architecture.

"National Grid was a tremendous help," Burrell said. "We have several events year-round as Ellicottville is a destination for so many people. We now have additional parking spaces and are hopeful that the few hundred people who work in the village during the week will enjoy the new lot. Thanks to Cattaraugus County and National Grid, the entire community and the more than 25,000 visitors we see on weekends will benefit from the additional parking and the ability to charge vehicles."

The Ellicottville project, located at 9 Mill St., received nearly $24,000 in incentives from National Grid's EV Make-Ready Program, which represented about half of the total installation costs. National Grid also provided the village with funding to add to its existing electricity infrastructure, which allows the village to accommodate more EV charging if it's decided to add additional plugs in the future.

"Our Make-Ready Program is ideally suited for municipalities like the Village of Ellicottville," said Whitney Skeans, National Grid's EV Make-Ready Program Manager. She added that the charging stations can be found by EV drivers on popular plug-finding apps. "One of the advantages that Level 2 chargers create is that while their vehicles are being charged visitors may shop, dine, stay overnight, and support area businesses."

Among those who attended the May 31 parking lot ceremony in Ellicottville included, from left, Brian McFadden, Executive Director of the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce; Ginger Schroder, Cattaraugus County Legislator; Whitney Skeans, National Grid's EV Make-Ready program manager; John Burrell, Village of Ellicottville Mayor; Richard Helmich, Cattaraugus County Legislator; Jolie Newpher, Village of Ellicottville Board Member; and Barb Pump, Executive Assistant Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce.

More about National Grid's Make-Ready Program

National Grid's Upstate New York EV Make-Ready Program helps business customers fund up to 100% of project costs related to installing electricity infrastructure. Projects such as the installation of EV charging stations in the Village of Ellicottville demonstrate the collaborative nature of how National Grid works with customers toward shared, clean energy goals.

These kinds of projects also align with New York State's climate action initiatives that call for reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality and zero-emission vehicle regulations by 2035. New York State provided additional support to meet these goals in November when it announced additional infrastructure funding to accelerate electric vehicle adoption and stimulate $4 billion in EV charging infrastructure investments.

More information about National Grid's EV Make-Ready Program is available in this downloadable brochure, or by emailing [e-mail].