ComEd is charging up its efforts in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, unveiling two new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. The stations were introduced this Thursday at the Illinois Eye Institute's parking lot, rounding off a two-year pilot project developed to enhance charging availability in areas where it's sparingly found.
The project, with a hefty $3 million price tag, was a collaboration between ComEd and the Department of Energy. It aims to crack the nut of serving low-income communities, shackled by both inefficient energy access and a high level of greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2022, Bronzeville's new stations have already supported almost 300 drivers, delivering over 2,800 charging sessions. “That tells you that even though the penetration of EVs have not reached the peak of where we know it’s headed, that tells you the demand is there,” Melissa Washington, ComEd's senior VP of customer operations and strategy, told the Chicago Sun-Times.
In the larger scheme of things, these are more than just charging stations; they're part of ComEd's broader vision to transform Bronzeville into a "smart community," tethered to innovations like a solar-powered microgrid that promises energy independence. According to Business Wire, Bronzeville's gold rush of energy technology has not only seen the addition of these five charging points but also the state's first-ever curbside charging station, a breath of fresh air for urban areas scant on parking lots.
With public EV charging stations scarce, especially in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods, these strategic installations are keystones of the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. The act, among other objectives, is gunning to cannonball 1 million EVs onto Illinois roads by 2030. "Pilot projects like this show how we can make EV ownership accessible to more people," John Gartner of the Center for Sustainable Energy said, as Business Wire quotes. Illinois now boasts nearly 100,000 registered EVs and that number's ticking up as the need for more charging firepower grows.
On the financial front, ComEd is fueling the switch to electric with about $90 million in rebates. Residential customers could see up to $3,750 back in their pockets for new charging setups, while business rebates soar as high as $500,000 for infrastructures like DC Fast Chargers, according to details from Business Wire. The incentives have revved up EV adoption, making it a more tangible reality for residents. "These new chargers are already having a positive impact on our students, faculty, staff, neighbors and patients of the Illinois Eye Institute." ICO president Dr. Mark Colip affirmed.
The windfall from these advancements in Bronzeville doesn't merely reflect technological evolution, but a step towards cleaner air and a reprieve from the health burdens caused by air pollution. Billy Davis of Jitney EV emphasized the importance of the venture saying, “Pilots like these are steps in the right direction to ensure that the clean energy transition is an equitable one,” as shared by Business Wire. The goal is clear: to pave the streets of Bronzeville with a greener tomorrow.
