‘Peaks to Prairies’ plugs into growth of electric vehicles
CHARGING STATIONS TO BE LOCATED ACROSS THE SOUTH
Southern Alberta motorists and visitors will soon be able to tour the region — without filling the gas tank.
They’ll be invited to plug their electric vehicles into public charging stations in Lethbridge and communities across the south.
As part of a collaboration between civic administrations and the provincial government the 20-station, $2-million “Peaks to Prairies” network will stretch from Medicine Hat to Crowsnest Pass. Fast-charging stations will also be provided at Warner, Cardston and Waterton Lakes National Park, as well as communities along Highways 2, 22 and 23.
“This is an excellent way of leveraging greater appreciation of southern Alberta’s renewable energy resource,” Environment Minister Shannon Phillips noted during the announcement Monday at Lethbridge College.
Each station will be powered by a renewable-energy source or its equivalent, she said.
The SouthGrow Regional Initiative brought the initiative to her attention, Phillips said. It will boost southern Alberta’s tourism industry, she predicted, as well as its overall economic growth.
And it follows the recent announcement of $2 billion worth of private investment in southern Alberta’s wind energy industry, Phillips said, with major projects being built this year and next.
“That’s part of southern Alberta’s regional strength, along with agriculture and tourism.”
The first station will open this spring in Lethbridge, officials said. Lethbridge transportation manager Darwin Juell said it will be located near the historic Canadian Pacific station on 1 Avenue South.
City officials are also looking at the purchase of electric transit buses, Juell said — vowing the next car he buys will also be electric.
Calgary and Medicine Hat joined Lethbridge with financial support for the stations, officials reported. The provincial government’s contribution from its Climate Change program will be $1.2 million.
ATCO Electric will operate and maintain the public-use facilities, which will also be provided in Taber, Fort Macleod and Pincher Creek as well as Carmangay, Claresholm, Nanton, Longview and the Chain Lakes Reservoir. Calgary-area stations will include Canmore and Chiniki. There are now 100,000 electric-powered vehicles operating in Canada, pointed out ATCO representative Francois Blouin — and that number is growing by 50 per cent each year.
“We’re connecting Alberta to the future of transportation,” he said.
On display during the announcement were five electric cars — by Tesla, Nissan, Hyundai and General Motors — driven here for the event from Edmonton or Calgary.
Lethbridge College has been involved in renewable energy initiatives for many years, an official said, and it will be training young Albertans to service the growing number of electric car models as they come onto the market.