INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis recently won millions of dollars in federal grants to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging availability in minority and underserved communities. A local group is hoping to help start the conversation on where the new charging stations should go.
An EV Green Book was just released by an advocacy group called "The Alliance" (Indiana Alliance for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure and Economic Opportunities Development).
It's called the Indiana Neighborhood Electrical Vehicle Charging Book. The EV Green Book provides 38 proposed locations in disadvantaged communities that would be suitable sites for electric charging infrastructure. The group proposing these recommendations is pushing for diversity, equity and inclusion in the green space economic world.
“We want to not have two Indiana's or two Indianapolis' where infrastructure is built in one location and not in the other," said Denise Abdul-Rahman, founder and chief equity officer of Black Sun Light Sustainability. "We want all the economic benefits to have people come off the highway with their EVs and charge up in front of our restaurants, in front of our non-profits, which have conveniences and safety and so on."
The Green Book also includes a six-point plan that works to help provide opportunities to include and engage communities of color for EV investment. At the end of August, it was announced the city of Indianapolis is getting $15 million in grants to put charging stations in minority and disadvantaged neighborhoods.
There's a meeting Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for community stakeholders at New Augusta Middle School on the northwest side of Indianapolis.