Photo: Adopt a Charger EVCS installation at Lake Fork Campground in Gunnison, Colorado
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GCEA Continues to Lead the Way in Installing EV Charging Infrastructure
Gunnison, CO – October 19, 2022 – To promote the use of electric vehicles in the Gunnison area, Gunnison County Electric Association and the National Park Service worked alongside EV manufacturer and automotive technology company Rivian to install one dual port 11.5 kW Rivian Waypoints Level 2 electric vehicle charger and a single port 62.5 kW ChargePoint brand direct current (DC) fast charger at the Lake Fork Campground in the Curecanti National Recreational Area. The chargers are operational as of early October 2022 on the east side of the campground.
Lake Fork is an ideal location due to its proximity to three-phase power necessary to support the DC fast charger, and it is centrally located between Montrose and Gunnison to provide another point of charging support on the growing network of EV chargers. At the junction between Highways 50 and 92, these new stations will provide convenience for drivers traveling to multiple destinations on the Western Slope. Rivian expressed interest in joining GCEA in the project to place a Waypoints Level 2 charger close to trails, boating, and other recreation. Drivers will be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Blue Mesa while charging.
Funding for the charging stations comes from a host of financial partners, including grant funding from the Charge Ahead Colorado Program and contributions from Tri-State Generation & Transmission, Gunnison County, Adopt a Charger, GCEA, and Rivian. GCEA provided the necessary electrical upgrades required for the station installation and the National Park Service provided the site location.
“Over the last two years, Gunnison County has seen a 235 percent increase in the number of registered EVs. Having the necessary charging infrastructure in place is key in sustaining the growth of EV purchases. The partnership between GCEA, Rivian, and the National Park Service is paving the way for more electric vehicles to have a place to charge,” said GCEA Member Relations Supervisor, Alliy Sahagun.
To celebrate the new stations, GCEA hosted a ribbon-cutting event on Friday, October 21, 2022, with remarks from GCEA Strategy Execution Specialist Matt Feier, Rivian Community Charging Waypoints Senior Manager Kelly Desy, and Tri-State VP of Communications Lee Boughey. After the ribbon cutting, each station delivered its inaugural charge, and the stations are both now open to EV drivers of all makes and models.
About GCEA
GCEA is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivering electricity to homes and businesses throughout Gunnison County, Hinsdale County, and parts of Saguache County. Established in 1938, the cooperative serves just over 11,000 consumer-members with 1,100 miles of line and four substations. GCEA receives wholesale power from Tri-State Generation & Transmission and is one of twenty-two coops in the Colorado Rural Electric Association. For more information about GCEA, visit www.gcea.coop or follow the cooperative on Facebook and Instagram.
About Adopt a Charger
We’re a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in March 2011 to accelerate the widespread adoption of plug-in electric vehicles by broadening the charging infrastructure. Our unique approach matches a sponsor with a host site located at a popular public destination: parks, colleges, museums, beaches, and the like. For more information, contact Kitty Adams or learn more here.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
GCEA: Alliy Sahagun (Member Relations Supervisor) / asahagun@gcea.coop; (970) 641-7356