Community Corner

North Hempstead Takes Lead in Launching LIE Charging Station Corridor

The town is working with municipalities across Long Island, so owning electric cars is more convenient, officials say.

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An electric vehicle charging station corridor along the Long Island Expressway is one step closer to becoming a reality, with North Hempstead taking the lead as project manager.

The town received a $625,000 grant in December as part of the Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Annual New York State Regional Economic Development Council Awards.

North Hempstead, along with seven other Long Island towns and Suffolk County, are involved in the initiative, according to a recent town press release.

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North Hempstead officials will begin meetings with other group members – Babylon, Brookhaven, Hempstead, Huntington, Islip, Oyster Bay and Smithtown – and advisory member Suffolk County in January.

A feasibility study will help determine which locations would maximize impact and the necessary design specifications. Each community is committing to facilitate the installation of four charging stations per town, track their usage, and implement unified building codes for the construction of the charging stations, according to North Hempstead officials.

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“Electric cars are becoming more prevalent in this day and age as their benefits to the environment are numerous,” Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said.

“By working together with local governments across Long Island, we are looking forward to providing accessible places for residents to charge their cars, making the electric car owning experience more convenient and feasible.”

The goal is to put charging stations near restaurants, malls and movie theaters, so that drivers have a place to go while waiting for their cars to charge, Town Grants Coordinator Thomas Devaney said.

The town currently has a charging outlet for electric vehicles at Town Hall in Manhasset and several public stations at the “Yes We Can” Community Center in Westbury.

Image: Flickr/Creative Commons/The Rabbit

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