BLACK HILLS ENERGY, COLORADO LEADERS ADVANCE TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION GOALS IN SOUTHERN COLORADO
PUEBLO, Colo., Aug. 15, 2022 – “Join the EV Revolution,” was the theme of today’s parking lot celebration at Black Hills Energy with local leaders gathering in Pueblo to share how electric vehicle infrastructure and adoption is gaining momentum in Southern Colorado.
The event, sponsored by Black Hills Energy, drew EV experts and enthusiasts from across the state, including Pueblo Mayor Nick Gradisar, Christian Williss, senior director of Transportation Fuels and Technology from the Colorado Energy Office, the Colorado Department of Transportation, and volunteers from Drive Clean Colorado, a non-profit coalition dedicated to helping people make decisions that bring about cleaner air in Colorado through clean transportation and efficient mobility choices. Representatives were also on hand from Pueblo Community College to share how higher education is establishing career pathways for students interested in the transformation of automotive technology.
“We believe that electrifying the transportation sector is a group journey,” said Kellie Ashcraft, Black Hills Energy’s vice president of Colorado Operations. “We’re proud to do our part by helping grow electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure in Southern Colorado through our partnerships with our customers and through our Ready EV rebate program, which makes EV charging more affordable and more convenient.”
The Ready EV program has three main components:
- Rebates to significantly lower the cost of electric vehicle charging equipment for homes and businesses
- Upfront electric vehicle purchase rebates for income-qualified customers to support the equitable adoption of EVs
- A new time-of-day rate option to support EV charging that could lead to bill savings
“We’re excited to celebrate EV infrastructure and charger rebates in Southern Colorado in partnership with Mayor Gradisar and the Colorado Energy Office,” said Nick Wagner, Black Hills Energy’s vice president of Colorado Regulatory Affairs and Policy. “Through our Ready EV program, we’re supporting the adoption of electric vehicles, removing barriers to EV ownership and helping our customers learn about the many benefits of EVs, including their availability in Southern Colorado.”
“The number of electric vehicles in Southern Colorado has more than doubled since 2016, and yet there’s still much potential for growth,” said Pueblo Mayor Gradisar. “We’re eager to work with community partners, like Black Hills Energy, to meet the growing demand for EV infrastructure and to do our part to support the clean energy transition. The City of Pueblo has recently started with beginning to electrify the fleet of Pueblo Police Department and we look to expand our EV fleet throughout our city departments in the future. ”
“Electrification of the transportation sector is a critical strategy in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality across the state,” said Christian Williss, senior director of Transportation Fuels and Technology at the Colorado Energy Office. “I applaud Black Hills Energy and other like-minded organizations who are leading the transition to electric vehicles by providing resources to help customers purchase EVs and save money in the process.”
More information about Black Hills Energy’s Ready EV program is available at https://www.blackhillsenergy.com/efficiency-and-savings/welcome-ready-ev/welcome-colorado-ready-ev.
Black Hills Corporation
Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves 1.3 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.
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