Golden Valley Council Approves EV Chargers at Menards
With the blessing of the Golden Valley City Council, six new electric vehicle charges are planned for installation at the Golden Valley Menards.
The council unanimously approved the proposal in a recent meeting.
A third-party company called Electrify America is partnering with Menards to install the chargers.
The level-three chargers will be the fastest available on the market. These chargers can add up to 20 miles of range to a vehicle for every minute of charging.
“I’m very supportive of this,” said Golden Valley City Council member Denise La Mere-Anderson. “I think these level-three electric vehicle charging stations will be a great benefit to our community. And I think that this is a well thought-out plan, so I’m really supportive. I think [city] staff and the [Golden Valley] Planning Commission have done a great job really looking at the pros and cons of this.”
The Golden Valley City Council approved the installation of six EV chargers at Menards.
Anyone charging a vehicle at these stations would pay a flat rate based on the amount of electricity they use.
Previously, the Golden Valley Planning Commission recommended the project for approval. However, the commission had concerns related to drainage and landscaping at the site.
Jason Zimmerman, planning manager, said drainage should not be an issue at the site.
According to Zimmerman, several trees have been removed at the site in recent years.
As a result, city staff members plan to withhold the permit for approval until Menards plants additional trees in compliance with the landscaping plan.
“On one hand, it seems to be a bonus that [the electric vehicle chargers] are quite visible from the highway and from the street as an appealing amenity to draw people in to Golden Valley,” said Council Member Gillian Rosenquist. “On the other hand, I think we all want to see more trees.”
