SOPEC says Athens locked in lower electricity rates, plans EV charging hub at former service station

At a committee meeting Monday, Luke Selfridge, representing the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council, told Athens City Council members that SOPEC has secured federal grants and locked in power supply rates that will lower Athens’ electricity supply price for the coming year.

SOPEC, Selfridge said, has purchased 136 Columbus Road — the former Russell service station — and has been awarded two federal grants totaling $16,600,000 to develop an electric vehicle charging corridor connecting Southeast Ohio and Western Ohio with main nodes in Athens and Dayton. “We have been awarded 2 EV charger grants from the federal government, in the amount of $16,600,000 to connect, Southeast Ohio with, Western Ohio,” Selfridge said.

The presentation emphasized two immediate impacts for Athens. First, Selfridge said SOPEC locked supply for the city at a fixed rate for the next 12 months; he gave the Athens supply rate inclusive of the local carbon fee as about 9.956 cents per kilowatt-hour, with the city’s current supply roughly 10.057 cents. Second, Selfridge described planned local investments from a city-held “carbon fee” that SOPEC administers on behalf of member communities. He said the carbon-fee funds helped a solar project supporting the Athens wastewater treatment plant and will be available for other projects as the city requests them.

Why it matters: the grants and local procurement choices affect vehicle charging availability, municipal infrastructure and near-term utility bills. Selfridge said SOPEC members will remain below the standard utility service offer as capacity costs rise statewide. He also highlighted aggregate savings from SOPEC programs: $675,000 saved by the city from 2020–2024, and nearly $500,000 saved through a public pricing program for customers.

Details from the presentation included economic and program notes. Selfridge said SOPEC represents more than 40 public subdivisions across Ohio, including Athens and Athens County, and described organizational growth and a commitment to local presence: the new property at 136 Columbus Road will be remediated and used as a regional charging hub with multiple charger levels, potentially including pull-through chargers for vehicles towing trailers or RVs. He noted the grant scope may include city facilities such as the fire station. He also warned that some federal programs that support low-income households (the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP) have staffing and funding questions at the federal level, an item he said SOPEC is watching.

Council members asked about practical impacts for residents. Council member Beth Clodfelter thanked SOPEC for its work and asked whether homeowners could seek help to install residential solar; Selfridge said SOPEC can provide information and pointed to the local SolSmart designation and community organizations such as Solar United Neighbors as resources. Selfridge also cautioned residents who shop for retail energy suppliers to “read the fine print,” noting SOPEC’s price is fixed for 12 months while some private offers are variable and may include monthly fees.

Next steps and timing: Selfridge said SOPEC will post formal rates on its website and expects the new Athens supply rate to take effect with the June meter-read cycle. The EV hub project will proceed with additional announcements, permitting and any required cleanup of the site; Selfridge said a Brownfields remediation grant application is pending and consultants are conducting site analysis.

Quotes in context

• "We have been awarded 2 EV charger grants from the federal government, in the amount of $16,600,000 to connect, Southeast Ohio with, Western Ohio," — Luke Selfridge, SOPEC representative.

• "So they can certainly call us. We wouldn't be, the direct resource for installing solar, but we certainly can provide information on finding those resources," — Luke Selfridge.

Ending

SOPEC said it will post the formal Athens rate and carbon fee balance on its website and continue working with city staff on charger deployment and use of carbon-fee funds. Council members encouraged continued coordination on permitting, remediation and outreach to residents interested in rooftop solar.