The City of Hamilton is getting ready for a cleaner, greener future with a helping hand from the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI). A sizable federal grant of $1.5 million has been awarded to the city—a decisive step forward in expanding its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Cerkl reports that this funding is coming through the OKI Carbon Reduction Program to support clean air initiatives.
In a strategic move to brace for the anticipated surge in electric vehicles, Hamilton will erect four new EV charging stations. Notable sites like the new Hamilton Justice Center, Kettering Hospital, Miami University Hamilton, and Potters Park Golf Course will host these installations. “We're thrilled to receive this funding from OKI, which will allow us to expand our network of electric vehicle charging stations across Hamilton,” according to the City of Hamilton. Project Manager with the City of Hamilton, Michael Gurr, told Cerkl. He emphasizes the city's dedication to promoting sustainability and ensuring that residents and visitors have easy access to clean transportation options.
Hamilton's commitment to carbon footprint reduction doesn't stop here. In 2021, the city installed three level 2 dual-port EV Charging Stations via an Ohio EPA Grant and recently added three more through municipal funding. These six stations already dot the landscape at various points throughout the city, from South 3rd Street to Main Street.
There's more electrification in the pipeline, with Hamilton being awarded a $441,152 grant in 2023 through OKI for six level 3 fast EV chargers. These chargers, located at Market Street and South Erie Boulevard, are set to be operational by winter 2024 and are currently in the procurement process, as per Cerkl. Furthermore, the city's greening efforts are rolling, with an Energy Efficiency Block Grant used to purchase EVs for the city fleet—including a Chevy Bolt, Chevy Equinox, and a Hyundai Ioniq5.
