SARASOTA COUNTY – As electric vehicle use becomes increasingly popular, Sarasota County government is launching a program to boost the number of charging stations across the county, with two workshops planned to provide program details.
The ChargeUP! Sarasota County program will rebate up to half the cost of buying and installing a new charging station, a move designed to make it easier and more affordable for targeted businesses, non-profits and government organizations to add new stations for public use.
“The program would support the addition of charging stations where they’re needed, encouraging more adoption of this sustainable transportation option,” said Lee Hayes Byron, Sarasota County’s sustainability manager. “Drivers will benefit by having more options for charging, and establishments will benefit by attracting more people.”
ChargeUP! will provide certain types of non-profit and government organizations with rebates of 50 percent – up to a maximum of $4,000 – of the cost to purchase and install a publicly available charging station. Select businesses will be eligible for rebates of 25 percent, with a $2,000 maximum. The program opens for applications in mid-February, with limited funding.
Representatives from Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension & Sustainability and Florida Power and Light will host two 90-minute events to provide interested parties with information about charging station options and costs, and details on eligibility and applying for ChargeUP! incentives.
Jan. 24: Brown-bag presentation, noon at the Sarasota County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. Lunch is not provided. Registration is required via Eventbrite.com.
Sarasota County currently ranks second in Florida for the number of electric vehicles per capita, and drivers can power up at any of nearly three dozen public charging stations. The demand for charging stations is expected to climb, as well, as local electric vehicle adoption expands.