The energy was drained out of a proposal for two electric car charging stations in Cumru Township as a majority of the commissioners opted not to move the plan forward.
The effort was spearheaded by Commissioner Vice Chairman David J. Batdorf, who made a motion to allow the township solicitor to prepare hold-harmless agreements for the property owners to allow engineering and other officials to do a cost analysis for leasing agreements.
The motion failed for lack of a second.
Board members concerns included cost and budget issues.
Batdorf proposed two stations, each with two level 3 charging units. The units give a full charge in 20 minutes for a cost of about $20.
Batdorf said the first proposed location would be in the 2200 block of Lancaster Pike (Business Route 222) across from the Best Western Hotel and Deluxe Diner.
“This location has an excellent traffic count near many suburban rooftops, and is a corner property with great visibility and access,” Batdorf said.
The second location would be along Route 10 in the Flying Hills parking lot.
“This location is prime due to the electric vehicles already in Flying Hills, plus Penske Corporation HQ and all the traffic coming on and off of the Morgantown expressway exit,” he said. “I use the same rent factor when calculating the rent for the leases and expense of the Flying Hill site as I did for the 222 site, which is $800 per site or $400 per charging unit.”
Batdorf partnered with public and private vendors to come up with a total upfront cost of $164,000, which could be financed or paid up front.
He said he put the idea out on social media and received 500 responses within two days. Most were in favor of the project.
The project was conceived at a public works meeting during which officials were informed that Reading was receiving a federal grant for 80% of the cost for a fast-charging station because of the city’s low income per capita status.
Batdorf said he believed it was unfair that Cumru residents be penalized or denied a grant for charging stations because the township has a much higher per capita income.
“Therefore, I felt the board should at least look into our potential costs and gains as well as goals and objectives,” he said.
His research showed the township would realize a yearly income of $134,000 from the charging stations.
Commissioners pushed back, saying too much profit was not allowed by law.
“The issue of the township making too much profit from this project can be handled by either lowering the cost of the charge or creating a separate fund to finance the purchase of electric vehicles or running it through the general fund,” Batdorf said. “This project stands on its own merit. It only lacks the will to move it forward.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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