ENFIELD — An Enfield resident wants to install two electric vehicle charging stations at her home at 78 Main St. and is applying for a state grant to help cover the cost.
Kimberly Quirk, a member of the Enfield Energy Committee, plans to install two Level 2 charging stations that would be available to the public 24 hours a day. She’s working to meet the Nov. 15 deadline for applying for New Hampshire’s Recharge the Adventure grant program, which offers up to $10,000 per charging port, according to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services website.
Quirk has worked in the renewable energy industry — she’s a storage engineer/analyst for ReVision Energy, and her Main Street property was formerly home to The Energy Emporium — and has driven an electric vehicle for nearly eight years. She said the project would build on her longstanding commitment to reducing fossil fuel use in the community.
“I’ve always been super interested in everything from recycling products and reducing fossil fuels, the pollution and the emissions, and then of course a strong interest in actual renewables,” she said.
On Quirk’s property, a mixed-use building that houses Common Threads Fabric and Home, she installed a solar hot water heating system and solar electric panels. She also recently installed an electric bicycle charging station near the Northern Rail Trail, which runs just across Main Street from her property.
Quirk said the Main Street location would allow drivers to charge their vehicles while visiting nearby businesses. According to the U.S. Department of Energy Electric Vehicle Charging Locations Map, Enfield currently has no Level 2 charging stations.
Quirk estimates the project will cost between $25,000 and $28,000. Initial estimates were higher, but she worked with installers and equipment vendors to trim construction and equipment costs, she said. She plans to cover the balance with her own funds. Over time, she hopes to recover some of the investment through charging fees, but she does not expect to make a profit.
“It might take a while to make the matching funds back, but I decided I’m willing to give that a try because it fits so well with the rest of my business here,” she said.
The Enfield Select Board has authorized the energy committee to research a separate grant application that could install charging stations on town property, though the select board hasn’t received any proposals yet, according to the Oct. 27 meeting minutes.
Quirk said she hopes her project can demonstrate whether public charging stations would be feasible for other areas in Enfield.
“I want to demonstrate this can be done and then be able to give people the real numbers,” she said.
