With the help of a $9,000 Charge Ahead Colorado grant from the Colorado Energy Office, the town of Mancos has installed an electric-vehicle charging station at Boyle Park.
The dual-port charging station is the first of its kind in Montezuma County, according to a Mancos press release.
A charging station at Mesa Verde National Park can power Tesla vehicles, but the station in Mancos is capable of charging all electric vehicles. The charging station, which was operational on Nov. 30, is located in two parking spots on the southwest parking lot at Boyle Park.
The town hill conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Dec. 10, at 9 a.m.
“While staying committed to our rural, Western roots, the town of Mancos also seeks to address the current and future needs of our community,” the press release states.
The new station will be powered by renewable energy. Mancos hired Durango-based company Living Solar to install the charging station and a 4.6 kilowatt solar panel system on the roof of town hall. When the charging station is not in use, the solar energy will offset power use at City Hall.
Mancos residents with electric vehicles can use the charging station for free until Dec. 31, 2019. All other electric vehicle owners will pay 12 cents per kilowatt hour for the first three hours. The press release states Rico and Silverton will soon have charging stations of their own.
Electric vehicles are expected to surpass gasoline vehicles in 30 years, according to the Mancos press release, and the Four Corners area currently lacks charging stations.
Nate Watters, director of public affairs at the Colorado Energy Office, stated in an email to The Journal that there is interest from residents and visitors in rural areas like Mancos to charge electric vehicles and reduce air pollution.
“Mancos is strategically located near Mesa Verde National Park, Highway 160, and the San Juan Scenic Byway, and therefore, having charging available in that community gives EV drivers confidence they can visit these great Colorado attractions,” Watters wrote.
The Colorado Energy Office also awarded stations to Rico and San Miguel County. More recently, on Nov. 29, Gov. John Hickenlooper and the Colorado Energy Office announced $10.33 million in grants for 33 additional electric vehicle charging stations throughout the state.
