Orange & Rockland Utilities Expands EV Charging Infrastructure with Major Projects
Orange & Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R) has achieved significant milestones in its efforts to support sustainable transportation by completing its largest electric vehicle (EV) charging projects to date. These initiatives, part of O&R’s PowerReady Program, underscore the company’s commitment to expanding EV charging accessibility across its service territory.
The PowerReady Program offers incentives that can offset up to 100% of the electric infrastructure costs associated with installing Level 2 or direct-current fast chargers (DCFC) for EVs. One of the most notable projects that made use of this program was the installation of 120 Level 2 light-duty chargers at the Gardens at Palisades condominium complex in Pomona.
Brendan Gallagher, O&R Clean Energy Manager, highlighted the program’s impact: “The PowerReady program has allowed O&R to support the widespread implementation of EV charging infrastructure throughout our entire service area. We are proud to accommodate the charging needs of existing EV owners at Gardens at Palisades and to provide motivation to prospective EV buyers who reside at the complex.”
In another significant development, Harbors at Haverstraw has energized hundreds of Level 2 electric vehicle chargers across a dozen buildings. This latest investment, a more than $2 million project, was also made possible through O&R’s PowerReady incentives, making it the largest EV charging project in O&R’s service territory. The incentives covered over 85% of the costs associated with upgrading Harbors at Haverstraw’s electric infrastructure to make the site suitable for the stations. Level 2 chargers can fully charge a battery overnight, making the transition to electric vehicles more affordable and convenient for drivers.
Andrew Farrell, Director of E-Mobility at O&R, stated, “Through our PowerReady incentive program, we’re supporting the buildout of a widespread network to bring electric vehicle charging to all drivers in our region. We are proud to support the largest electric vehicle charging site in our service territory as we work with our community partners to transition away from fossil fuels and towards a cleaner energy future.”
New York State’s EV Infrastructure initiative, launched in 2020, is the largest light-duty EV charging infrastructure program in the country, providing up to $585 million in customer incentives with a goal of supporting about 25,000 charging plugs. These chargers are being installed in diverse locations, including apartment buildings, retail locations, workplaces, street curbs, and public fast-charging hubs.
O&R’s PowerReady program, launched in the summer of 2020, now has a $43 million budget to install approximately 1,546 charging stations in its service territory. In March 2024, O&R became the first utility in NYS to contract 100% of its Level 2 charger installation target. With the completion of the charger installation at Gardens at Palisades, O&R now projects that the remaining 754 contracted Level 2 chargers will be energized by 2026. These chargers, part of 32 projects, will be constructed at various locations throughout Orange and Rockland counties, including 13 projects in disadvantaged communities.
For more information about O&R’s PowerReady incentive program, visit oru.com/PowerReady.
