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Power Options pitches no‑cost assessments, charging-as‑a‑service and solar procurement to NHCOG members
Summary
Power Options outlined a program offering cooperative pricing for EV chargers and solar procurement, including a charging‑as‑a‑service model for municipalities, and explained Connecticut incentives for Level 2 and DC fast chargers.
Power Options representatives told NHCOG members the nonprofit consortium can support municipal solar, EV charging and fleet‑electrification projects through competitive procurement, cooperative pricing and no‑cost initial assessments.
Program overview: Kristen Seljes (Power Options) described the group as a consortium of more than 500 public entities and nonprofits that provides buying power, technical guidance and program structuring. Walter (Walt) Gray, director of alternative fuels, explained the EV charging options the consortium supports: Level 2 charging (suitable for multi‑hour top‑ups) and DC fast charging (for rapid fills, often for fleet or high‑throughput locations). Gray emphasized two delivery models: (1) municipal ownership (buy, own, operate) and (2) charging-as-a-service where a third‑party developer funds, installs, owns and maintains the chargers and enters a site‑host agreement with the host municipality; the municipality can receive a fixed lease payment or a revenue share without capital outlay or maintenance obligations.
Incentives and finance: Power Options described Connecticut incentives that substantially reduce Level 2 installation costs (presenter-cited examples: $20,000 per site for Level 2; enhanced $40,000 per site in designated underserved communities). The presenters said typical two‑EV Level 2 installations may cost roughly $40,000 before incentives (project-specific), which the incentive can largely offset; DC fast chargers are more expensive and subject to periodic application windows. Power Options said it will perform no‑cost, no‑obligation project evaluations to confirm viability before towns enter procurement.
Why it matters: Municipalities pursuing downtown economic development, tourism or fleet electrification can use cooperative procurement and third‑party ownership options to install chargers without assuming full capital and operational responsibility.
Next steps: Power Options offered to provide no‑cost assessments, answer procurement questions and support towns individually or regionally. The presenters said a charging-as-a-service model would be available this summer.
