Public comments will be accepted through Aug. 7 for a proposed electric vehicle readiness plan for the City of Grand Junction.

Online comments can made at the website at https://EngageGJ.org/EV.

The plan calls for an increase in electric vehicle charging to accommodate travelers and boost economic development in Grand Junction while also ensuring local drivers have locations in which to charge their vehicles.

“Located at the crossroads of two major regional travel corridors, Grand Junction is uniquely situated to benefit from the ongoing transition by many motorists to electric vehicles,“ said Tamra Allen, community development director for the City of Grand Junction.

“Nearly 10 percent of newly registered vehicles in Colorado in 2022 were EVs, making the state one of the top five national leaders in EV adoption. One million Colorado-registered EVs are expected to be on the road by 2030. By implementing infrastructure and policies that support EV drivers, the city will be well positioned to adapt to the changing needs of both regional and local drivers,” Allen said.

The Grand Junction City Council appointed a team to work with city staff, consultants and the community to develop short- and long-term strategies for an electric vehicle readiness plan

This effort also implements the city’s adopted 2020 One Grand Junction Comprehensive Plan, which called for the city to identify needs and expand electric vehicle charging stations as part of the city’s infrastructure and the regional electric vehicle charging network.

Over the past seven months, the city has been working with consultants from Partners in Energy, a free Xcel Energy consulting service, to create a plan that will help Grand Junction maximize the benefits of increased EV adoption while supporting fair access and realistic opportunities across the community. Focus areas of the plan include incentivizing public adoption of electrified mobility options, increasing public charging infrastructure and transitioning institutional fleets.