Atlantic City Northeast Inlet area
ATLANTIC CITY – The city has been awarded a $12,000 grant to install electric vehicle charging stations at Atlantic City Hall and Gardner’s Basin.
“We are excited to gain funding to expand the network of EV charging stations in Atlantic City,” Mayor Frank Gilliam said. “As a major resort destination, Atlantic City is leading the way to provide these needed public charging stations for our residents and visitors.”
Atlantic City currently hosts EV charging stations at the Noyes Museum Arts Garage, Bally’s Casino Hotel, Borgata Casino Hotel, Golden Nugget Casino Hotel, Ocean Resort Casino, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Dock’s Oyster House, Atlantic Palace, South Jersey Gas/Stockton University parking garage, Atlantic City Convention Center, Sheraton Hotel and at the Atlantic County Utility Authority facility on the Black Horse Pike.
The charging stations are the first to be announced by the State of New Jersey, which received a $72.2 million settlement from the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust. The state is evaluating more than $400 million worth of project applications and expects additional awards to be finalized before the summer. In reviewing additional funding applications, the Department of Environmental Protection is focusing on reducing smog, as well as greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of electric vehicles and advancing environmental justice goals by using electric public transit buses, school buses and other zero-emission vehicles in communities that disproportionately bear the burden of air pollution. Gov. Phil Murphy has committed to using 15 percent or $10.8 million of the settlement amount for electric-vehicle charging stations.
“We are committed to growing the charging infrastructure across New Jersey and making it easier for the public to help us improve air quality by using zero-emission vehicles,” NJDEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe said.
This grant will not fully fund the installation of changing stations. The city plans to use a Green Acres grant to complete the EV charging stations at Gardner’s Basin and pursue additional grants to fund City Hall stations.
This is not Atlantic City’s first effort to create a hub for alternative energy vehicles. The city has purchased several vehicles that are fueled by compressed natural gas and hosts a CNG fueling station at its Public Works Complex on the Black Horse Pike. The entire Atlantic City Jitney fleet is fueled by CNG as well.
Other energy independence initiatives include solar installations, energy audits and conversion of more than 6,000 streetlights to LED technology.
