MONROE — The township is now home to its first electric car charging station.
Marked by a large green logo, the station can be found in an exterior section of the Monroe Township Library’s parking lot, 4 Municipal Plaza, and is municipally operated and maintained.
Cooper Electric Supply Co., Monroe, had donated level 2, 240-volt charging equipment during the township’s 2016 Green Fair.
Mayor Gerald W. Tamburro said the library is a prime location for an electric station for several reasons.
“For starters, it’s centrally located in the township,” he said. “Safety also weighed heavily into our decision with the library sitting adjacent to our police headquarters and its parking lot situated in a well-lit area, thanks to the bright LED energy-saving lights that were recently installed.”
Officials said with Monroe’s latest green initiative they hope to encourage more residents to consider investing in an eco-friendly driving option, such as a hybrid or an all-electric vehicle.
As of late, a few other charging stations have cropped up on local roads in nearby communities like East Windsor, South Brunswick and Old Bridge, but those destinations are still few and far between, township representatives said.
“Our site has become a link within the county’s growing chain of stations,” Monroe Council President Steve Dalina said. “Our township is doing its part to help reduce carbon emissions in the area, and as an added bonus, introducing some of our residents, who are charging their vehicle during daytime hours, to Monroe’s phenomenal library services and programming.”
Local advocates have also begun the process of registering Monroe’s station with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, which acts as a resource to help residents and commuters find alternative fueling stations along U.S. routes by way of associated websites and apps.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this exclusive group of communities,” said Karen Polidoro, chairwoman of Monroe’s Environmental Commission. “If this site sees substantial usage, the township may consider adding additional stations in the future at alternative locations in Monroe.”
Polidoro added that the electric station is one of the items on the township’s checklist for attaining silver certification through Sustainable New Jersey, an organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to green communities that meet their rigorous criteria.