Rural Virginia Co-Ops, Developer Granted $1.1 Million to Build Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Rural electric cooperatives are joining in on the deployment of electric vehicle charging stations statewide, after Virginia Energy announced $1.1 million in awards to two co-ops last week, as well as an EV charger developer.

A&N Electric Cooperative, which serves the Eastern Shore, will receive $274,290 for two charging stations in New Church and Capeville. Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, through its subsidiary Vividly Brighter, will get $121,974.40 for three chargers, including two in Caret and one in Doswell. Electric vehicle charging station developer Blink Charging will net $542,444 for five stations in Cape Charles, Norfolk, Suffolk and Petersburg and two stations to be built in Salem.

The funds stem from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Electric Vehicle Charging Assistance Program and are being administered by the Virginia Department of Energy. A lack of available charging stations has been a challenge for EV infrastructure development across the state, a concern from major auto manufacturers amid declining sales projections, and a chief argument of opponents of policies aimed at spurring electric vehicle sales.

The charging stations will complement the network of charging stations the federal government is also funding through the BIL and the Virginia Department of Transportation, being deployed along interstates and state highways. Del. Rip Sullivan, D-Fairfax, has introduced measures to expand EV charging stations in rural areas to benefit the tourism industry, but they have failed to pass the past three years’ legislative sessions.

Transportation emissions constitute about one-third of the state’s and the country’s climate changing greenhouse gas releases, which  are trapping heat in the atmosphere and leading to more intense and frequent storms.

In a statement about the latest awardings, Virginia Energy said the chargers will attract more visitors to tourist destinations and support local businesses. The tourism industry in the state brought in $24 billion in 2023, the most ever, according to the statement, which added that more electric vehicle infrastructure in these rural areas “will only increase those dollars.”

“EV charging stations have the potential to boost revenue of nearby businesses by $1,500 annually, keeping Virginia competitive in the evolving tourism industry,” said Glenn Davis, Virginia Energy director.

A study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology released in September found that opening charging stations boosted annual spending at nearby businesses by an average of about $1,500 in 2019, and about $400 between January 2021 and June 2023. The decline was due to more EV charges being available, leading to less utilization, and a decrease in spending at businesses after the pandemic and a lower number of businesses served by each charger.

Editor’s note: This story was corrected to say transportation emissions constitute about one-third of the state’s and country’s greenhouse gas releases.

by Charlie Paullin, Virginia Mercury

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