THE City of Delta announced on Friday that it has received a $200,000 investment through Natural Resources Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program.
This includes $150,000 to support the installation of one electric vehicle (EV) fast charger and 20 Level 2 EV charging stations at public facilities across Delta, as well as $50,000 for 10 Level 2 EV chargers at three of Delta’s fleet facilities.
In addition, the Province of BC is also contributing $25,000 for the fast charger under the CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program.
These grants will help build upon Delta’s community-wide network of electric vehicle charging stations. The new public stations are expected to be operational in late 2023. The fleet charging stations will be the first for Delta. This infrastructure is necessary to support the electrification of Delta’s fleet.
Jonathan Wilkinson, federal Minister of Natural Resources, said: “We’re making electric vehicles more affordable and charging more accessible where Canadians live, work and play. Investing in more EV chargers, like the ones announced today across Greater Vancouver and the country, will put more Canadians in the driver’s seat on the road to a net-zero future and help achieve our climate goals.”
Carla Qualtrough, federal Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion and MP for Delta, said: “Delta has a bold commitment to climate action. As more and more Deltans choose electric vehicles, it’s important that we have a network of charging stations in our community. This investment will make it easier for people to get around while at the same time achieving our climate goals.”
Josie Osborne, B.C. Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, said: “British Columbians want to make good choices for the environment, and improving access to public charging infrastructure means even more people can make the transition to driving electric vehicles. I’m thrilled to be working together with the federal government and the City of Delta on a community-wide network of charging stations that will move us towards our CleanBC goal of reducing greenhouse gases for a more sustainable future.”
Delta Mayor George V. Harvie said: “I want to thank the federal and provincial governments as this funding goes a long way towards supporting Delta’s Electric Vehicle Strategy, helping us create the infrastructure needed to encourage electric vehicles in our community. I appreciate working with our Member of Parliament, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, and acknowledge her support towards Delta’s climate action goals and providing greener transportation options for residents as we work towards a net-zero future.”
The City of Delta has been working continuously on reducing its greenhouse gases and on climate mitigation and adaptation. As part of these efforts, Harvie and Delta Council endorsed an Electric Vehicle Strategy to recognize the importance of electric vehicles in reducing Delta’s carbon footprint. Several actions in the City’s Electric Vehicle Strategy support increasing Delta’s public electric vehicle charging network. The funding provided by Natural Resources Canada and BC assists Delta in achieving this goal.