Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
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LIGHTS July 2018 Electric vehicle charging infrastructure As the market for electric vehicles (EVs) continues to grow, the charging infrastructure to support them needs to follow. A growing number of businesses across the state are installing EV charging stations, as are retailers, parks and gas stations. In an effort to reduce range anxiety and encourage the adoption of EVs in our region, Beltrami Electric Cooperative has partnered with the city of Blackduck and the Big Bog State Recreation Area to install two public Level 2 EV chargers. These chargers provide 240 volts and average between 2-8 hours for a full charge. Beltrami Electric has added a third charging station, which includes both a Level 2 (240-volt) and a Direct Current (DC) fast charger, at our headquarters building near the community solar garden. Level 2 EV charging station located at the Big Bog State Recreation Area, Level 2 EV just north of the town of Waskish charging station located at the Blackduck City Park Rest Area Direct Current (DC) Fast Beneficial Electrification: Charger and Level 2 EV EVs will be an excellent off-peak load for utilities, as they charging stations located help facilitate integration of intermittent renewable generation at Beltrami Electric into the grid. With the addition of wind and solar generation, Headquarters, next to the cooperatives like Beltrami Electric often have excess capacity at community solar garden night and during other periods of low demand. Members who connect their home’s charger to off-peak will not only provide a use for this excess energy, but will also aid in the reduction of the emissions that conventional vehicles create. Scholarships – page 3 • Unclaimed capital credits – page 8 NORTHERN LIGHTS Northern Lights (USPS 016488), Vol. 65, Move Over legislation No. 7 is published monthly by Beltrami Electric Cooperative Inc., 4111 Technology update and electric vehicles Drive N.W., Bemidji, Minnesota 56619-0488. Subscription rate $5. Periodicals postage paid at Bemidji, MN 56601. Jared Echternach, CEO Postmaster: Please send address corrections to Beltrami Electric Cooperative Inc., P.O. Box Move Over legislation signed into law Electric vehicles 488, Bemidji, Minnesota 56619-0488. This session was fairly quiet in There’s a neat story in this issue of Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday terms of energy legislation at the state Northern Lights on electric vehicles Member Service: 218-444-2540 level, but in late May Gov. Dayton (EVs) and our new EV charging or 1-800-955-6083 signed into law our Move Over stations. If you’ve never driven an EV, www.beltramielectric.com legislation – a safety bill for which we you definitely should try it as you’re in Board of Directors had been advocating. for a treat. EVs are quiet, which is not President Rick Coe, DISTRICT 6 In 2015, Minnesota electric surprising, and they are peppy, which (Minnkota Director) cooperatives promoted, and the was surprising to me. You’ll begin to Vice President John Lund, DISTRICT 7 legislature passed, legislation that hear more about EVs over the next Secretary Murl Nord, DISTRICT 1 expanded Minnesota’s Move Over law (Square Butte Director) few years as more Americans begin to Treasurer Judy Honer, DISTRICT 9 to include parked utility vehicles with purchase EVs. They are a great off-peak Directors: Charlie Perkins, DISTRICT 2; Charles their emergency or warning lights load for utilities, they have tremendous Parson, DISTRICT 3; Craig Gaasvig, DISTRICT 4; activated. This legislation applied to a gas mileage equivalence and their range Robert Wallner, DISTRICT 5; Sue Kringen, DISTRICT 8 highway having two lanes in the same has improved dramatically. What’s even CEO Jared Echternach direction. Editor Angela Lyseng better is that charging an EV on our The legislation this year adds to off-peak rate is like buying gasoline for This Institution is an equal opportunity the statute streets or highways having roughly 65 cents a gallon! I think what provider and employer. only one lane in the same direction. I like best, other than performance and The legislation requires that drivers quietness, is the fact that you can leave Minnesota State Electrical Inspectors slow down, maintaining a safe speed home every morning with a “full tank.” Beltrami County for traffic conditions, and operate the Ron Ditsch vehicle at a reduced speed until safely Independence Day 218-779-6758 - [email protected] past the parked utility or emergency It’s hard to believe July is here and vehicle. Independence Day is right around the Cass and Hubbard Counties Safety is the number one priority corner. As you gather with family and Steve Schauland friends over the Fourth of July holiday, 218-652-2213 or fax 218-333-0451 for electric cooperatives who have employees working alongside roadways please be safe. I wish you a safe and These are the inspectors covering the area served by Beltrami Electric. They can be reached by every day. Traffic safety is always an enjoyable Fourth of July! phone Monday through Friday between 7 and issue – even in the North Country. 8:30 a.m. or by fax or email as indicated. This additional piece of legislation will further increase the safety of our line Gopher State One Call workers. I’m pleased to report that this 1-800-252-1166 or 811 legislation passed unanimously! www.gopherstateonecall.org Sen. Michael Goggin, chief author Anyone who plans to dig is required by law to notify in the Senate, and Rep. Greg Davids, the state of their intentions at least 48 hours in chief author in the House, did a advance. great job in drafting this legislation. All digging requires the 48-hour notification so that Both Sen. Goggin and Rep. Davids buried telephone lines, television cables, pipelines, are excellent supporters of electric utility electrical lines, and municipal water and cooperatives, and we thank them for sewer lines can be located to ensure that none will be severed or damaged. their support. I’d personally like to thank our local representatives and STAY CONNECTED! senators for their support, including Rep. Matt Bliss, Rep. Matt Grossell, Rep. Sandy Layman, Sen. Justin Eichorn and Beltrami Electric will be closed Like our page Follow us Visit our YouTube Sen. Paul Utlke. Wednesday, July 4, in observation on Facebook on Twitter channel Our employees are safer today of Independence Day. because of this legislation. 2 Northern Lights • July 2018 Congrats! CLASS OF 2018 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Jenna Lewis Bemidji High School Madie Cease JennaLee Fairbanks McKenzie Hillman Annika Olson Blackduck High School Cass Lake-Bena High School Kelliher High School Laporte High School Beltrami Electric Cooperative awards scholarships annually to students attending seven high schools within BEC service territory. Beltrami Electric scholarships are funded with unclaimed capital credits that otherwise would be forfeited to the state. This year, the cooperative awarded $1,000 scholarships to seven area high schools in our service area. To be eligible, a student’s parent(s) or guardian must be a Beltrami Electric member and show proof of enrollment in a post-secondary education institution the following year. Each school selected the winners through committees or guidance centers. Alysha Beaulieu Amarah Dykema Red Lake High School Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School AT-LARGE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Beltrami Electric also awarded three $1,000 At-Large scholarships to students who are dependents of BEC members attending a school other than the seven listed above. These scholarships were awarded based on a combination of academic achievement, work experiences, participation in school and community activities, submission of a 500-word Mark Yerbich Morgan Rohloff Logan Humphrey essay and two written letters of Home School Onamia High School Trek North recommendation by a third party. Beltrami Electric is pleased to contribute to the further education of students each year. We wish them the best of luck in their studies and careers! Northern Lights • July 2018 3 Chevy BOLT! As your Touchstone Energy cooperative, we want to be your source of power and information Since electric vehicles (EVs) are rapidly becoming more widely available, we want to be your trusted energy advisor, PLUG IN & SAVE providing firsthand knowledge of the benefits and challenges ENERGY / MONEY / ENVIRONMENT of owning and operating an EV in our rural communities. This spring, Beltrami Electric added an all-electric • A miles-per-gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe) Chevrolet Bolt to its fleet of service vehicles. As we use this measurement is used to compare EV fuel efficiency to vehicle, we plan to share what we learn and experience with internal combustion engine vehicles. The Bolt touts our members in order to provide help when they begin to an EPA-estimated 128 MPGe (city) and 110 MPGe purchase EVs in increasing numbers. (highway). • The Bolt is propelled by a single permanent magnetic drive motor. When charged to 75 percent capacity or greater, the motor is capable of providing 266 lb-ft. of torque and 200 hp of power and can achieve 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds. • There are a variety of charging options for the Bolt EV. Level 1, 120-volt charging through a standard electrical outlet provides about four miles per hour of charge. Level 2, 240-volt charging provides about 25 miles per hour of charge. Level 3, direct current (DC) fast charging can provide up to 90 miles of range in 30 minutes. • The Regen on Demand™ feature is a regenerative Energy Conservation Representative Bob Gregg stands next to BEC’s braking process that allows drivers to capture kinetic Chevy Bolt. Bob has been testing it out and, so far, likes what he’s energy while slowing down and return it to the vehicle’s battery.