ROCKVILLE, Ind. (WTHI) – Electric vehicles are becoming more and more common, and with that comes a need for charging stations. Some have even made their way into the Wabash Valley.
Just like thousands of other communities around the country, Rockville is getting charged up!
Two EV charging stations have recently been installed in the town of Rockville. One is located at the Parke County Visitors Center on 401 East Ohio Street. The other is in this public parking lot at the corner of Jefferson and York Street.
The town went through the Indiana Municipal Power Agency to partner up with ChargePoint, the company supplying the chargers.
EV drivers can use the ChargePoint app and get notified when their car is ready. It costs 35 cents per kilowatt hour, with a fee of $3 an hour if your car isn’t moved after it’s done charging.
Rockville is on a 5-year lease for $42.50 a year with these stations. The town will pay for them now. Then later down the road, ChargePoint will deposit those funds back to rockville as people use the machines.
Town representatives say this just adds to the appeal of the community.
“We are very excited to be able to offer these to residents, but not only residents. We’re geared toward tourism, so we’re excited to be able to offer that as people come to town and visit our community,” said Brandy Asher, Rockville Clerk Treasurer.
“I equate rockville to a Hallmark movie. It is beautiful. It’s adorable. The residents are exactly what you’d imagine. They’re so kind and so welcoming,” said Michelle Mundo.
Michelle Mundo has been a resident of Rockville for just over a year after moving here for her job as site-manager at Billie Creek Village. She’s just one resident who says these new EV charging stations are a great amenity to offer.
“I think it is absolutely wonderful progression for our community,” said Mundo.
These two new charging stations aren’t a part of it, but they do coincide with INDOT’s Charging the Crossroads Initiative, which will invest $100 million into building an EV charging network for the entire state.
Community members and leaders say these new amenities will attract more visitors.
“Bringing these chargers and availability for people to be able to use these stations as tourism. One of our biggest tourism would be our Parke County Covered Bridge Festival,” said Asher.
“Having something like EV chargers that now makes us a waystop for people with electric vehicles. That means they’re gonna visit the visitors centers. They’re gonna visit the local businesses,” said Mundo.
Just like any project, there are nay-sayers, but residents like Mundo are excited for the future of the small town.
“I love seeing progress. I love seeing growth. Rockville is fantastic. I find a lot of the projects that are happening and evolving are just a benefit to the community,” said Mundo.
For now, the city will be sticking with just 2 charging stations, but there’s always a possibility for more in the future.
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