By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
With a blue and white sky overhead, and a light breeze rustling tree leaves, members from the Glasgow Electric Plant Board, the City of Glasgow and Barren Inc. gathered in the parking lot by the Southcentral Kentucky Cultural Center to officially celebrate two new electric vehicle chargers.
The “celebration of expansion,” which began at roughly 11 a.m., was for the two new EV chargers the plant board began installing last year. Dave Puskala, superintendent of the plant board, said since the chargers completion in Nov. 2023 roughly 180 vehicles across 18 different states have charged at the location. He also said these stations would put Glasgow on the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Locations map compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Dave Puskala, superintendent of the Glasgow Electric Plant Board, speaks at the “expansion” celebration on April 24. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
“It puts [Glasgow] on the EV charging map and it brings people downtown,” Puskala said.
“What’s really exciting about this is it’s not only giving to the community but it puts us on that resource for anyone who’s traveling through,” Russell added.
According to the map these two stations join the privately-owned station at Gillie Hyde Ford on Happy Valley Road, which is not listed as a fast charging station — Aaron Russell, communication director at the Glasgow Electric Plant Board, said the fast charge distinction means it can charge 80-85 percent in roughly 30 minutes. Excluding those the closest charging station is one in Cave City and several in Bowling Green.
Originally, Glasgow Mayor Henry Royse said the planned location for the stations was the parking lot behind City Hall but due to traffic and construction concerns was moved. He said that while the streets, which is West Water Street, might not get a ton of traffic currently, it will likely increase with the incoming justice center and the rejuvenation of the bridge.
This addition is a partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority — the EPB’s supplier — the plant board and the city. According to Puskala the TVA provided 80 percent of the needed funds for the project while the city and the company brought the other 20 percent.
“The city is glad to partner with the EPB because we’re going for the same thing,” Royse said. “We want to make EV charging accessible to everybody. This location is accessible without being difficult.”
Puskala and Russell said there are currently no plans to add additional charging stations throughout town, but would consider it if they saw a need for more. Puskala remarked that this was a “good start” that would hopefully increase and encourage private investments in local EV chargers.
“I definitely think there’s interest on all fronts; from the city, from EPB and from TVA to add more to this community and I think as the need grows we’ll look into [more locations] to meet that need,” Russell said.
The 6-minute celebration came to an end with the 25 members present cutting the ribbon officially celebrating the charging stations’ location.
Roughly 25 people from Glasgow, the EPB and Barren Inc. watched as the superintendent officially cut the ribbon on the two new electric vehicle chargers. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
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