The City of Stratford is speeding along to its climate goals.
The Federal government announced that more EV charging stations are coming to the Festival City.
MP Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of natural resources, announced an investment of $160,000 into installing 23 EV charging stations in public areas around the city.
Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma said that it is investments like these which will get the city closer to their goal of a 30 per cent greenhouse gas emission reduction by 2030.
“I'm so pleased with the support from the National Resources Canada regarding the city's work on increasing the number of EV stations in our community,” Ritsma said via a media release. “The use of the EV charging stations will benefit our local residents and the 1.5 million plus yearly visitors to our city.”
Since 2016, the Government of Canada has invested $1 billion to make EVs more affordable for Canadians. Wilkinson said the investments are essential in achieving climate goals.
“Investing in more EV chargers, like the ones announced in Stratford will put more Canadians in the driver's seat on the road to a net-zero future.”
Total cost of the project is $483,428, with the City of Stratford investing $317,428.
The chargers will be available throughout the city by January 2025. Deputy Clerk for the City of Stratford Chris Bantock later told StratfordToday that the locations for these chargers are tentatively selected across city-owned parking lots, in coordination with Festival Hydro.
"It is possible that proposed locations could be changed as we move through the project," he wrote in an emailed statement. "However, installations will remain within parking lots and will not impact on-street parking."
Currently, there are only two City-owned chargers -- located on Market Place across from City Hall and in Upper Queens Park.
