Monroe - The township hopes a green initiative will encourage more residents to consider investing in eco-friendly driving options, such as hybrid or all-electric vehicles, it said recently as it unveiled its first-ever electric car charging station.
During the annual community Green Fair, Cooper Electric donated 240-volt charging equipment for the station, which is municipally operated and maintained.
The township chose to install the station on library grounds.
Why the library?
“The library is a prime location for several reasons,” said Monroe’s mayor, Gerald W. Tamburro. "It’s centrally located in the Township.”
Safety also “weighed heavily” into the decision he added.
Moreover, the library sits adjacent to police headquarters and the parking lot is well lit.
Recently, a few other charging stations have cropped up on local roads in nearby communities like East Windsor, South Brunswick and Old Bridge, but are “still few and far between," noted township representativeour site has become a link within the county’s growing chain of stations,” Monroe Council President, Steve Dalina, said.
"Monroe is doing its part to help reduce carbon emissions.”
Local advocates have also begun the process of registering Monroe’s station with The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, a division that acts as a resource to help residents and commuters find alternative fueling stations along traveled routes.
Karen Polidoro, Chairwoman of Monroe’s Environmental Commission, said that if the station catches on, the township would consider more stations in the future.
The station is slated to attain "Silver Certification" by Sustainable New Jersey, an organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to green communities.
Monroe’s electric car charging station is marked by a large green logo; you will find it in the exterior section of the library parking lot located at, 4 Municipal Plaza.
New Jersey is projecting over 2 million electric cars on the road within the next 20 years.
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