Some coastal residents might describe Fowler, California, as the middle of nowhere. But it’s smack in the center of the San Joaquin Valley, a region critical for growing food for the rest of the state and much of the U.S. Like much of the Valley, this town of 5,500 people, located a 15-minute drive south of Fresno, struggles with terrible air quality. But a growing movement may soon change that.
Some coastal residents might describe Fowler, California, as the middle of nowhere. But it’s smack in the center of the San Joaquin Valley, a region critical for growing food for the rest of the state and much of the U.S. Like much of the Valley, this town of 5,500 people, located a 15-minute drive south of Fresno, struggles with terrible air quality. But a growing movement may soon change that.
Earlier this week, local officials and business leaders chose Fowler to kick off what they hope will be the expansion of solar-powered electric car stations across the region. It was a small but boisterous event to celebrate the official opening of 13 transportable, solar-powered charging stations in communities surrounding Fresno, installed at a cost of $800,000.
The level 2 dual-port chargers are located in towns such as Coalinga, Firebaugh, Kerman, Perlier and Reedley. Most of the funds were fronted by Caltrans via a grant to the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency, which operates a fleet of small buses across the valley. The regional air quality control district paid for approximately 10 percent of the costs.
Local officials describe the project as the largest deployment of solar-powered charging stations in the region, and the first to connect all rural cities in one single county.
Read more at Triple Pundit
Image: This solar-powered EV charger is free to locals and visitors and operates 24/7. (Credit: Leon Kaye)
