Gilpin County authorizes applications to Xcel Energy and state EV grant programs

The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 11 authorized staff to apply for Xcel Energy's EVSE/EVSI rebate program and the Colorado Energy Office's Charge Ahead Colorado grant to explore electric-vehicle charging infrastructure.

Planning staff told the board Xcel Energy had reopened a rebate opportunity and that, if the county qualifies as a disadvantaged community (DIC) under Xcel's program, rebates could substantially reduce infrastructure costs. Staff cited rebate figures discussed with Xcel and trade partners: for example, a fast charger rebate of about $90,000 per port was discussed for a DIC designation, with electrical-infrastructure rebates up to $40,000 per port for higher-speed chargers. Staff also described a lower rebate for level-2 ports (roughly $11,670 per port) and said that, combined with state funds and trade-partner arrangements, an installation at little or no county cost could be possible.

Rob Gutierrez and staff identified a preferred fast-charger location as the Teller lot across from the county building in Central City; that lot is owned by the City of Central and used by the county via a reciprocal parking arrangement. Gutierrez noted the county lacks three-phase power onsite and that a level-3 (fast) charger would likely be best placed in the Teller/City-owned lot across the street, subject to a lease or access agreement with Central City Opera and any operational agreements.

Staff said partnering with an Xcel-authorized trade partner could allow the trade partner to manage upfront costs so the county would not necessarily pay up front and seek rebates later. They also warned that the state Charge Ahead grant imposes additional reporting and equipment-networking requirements that can increase up-front costs. Commissioners authorized applications to both programs but emphasized they would only proceed with installations if the numbers and agreements made fiscal sense to the county.