The Westmoreland County Airport Authority is considering an agreement with Rostraver-based startup company Kilocharge to add electric vehicle charging stations at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.
Board members asked executive director Gabe Monzo to negotiate with the company after solicitor Daniel Hewitt detailed Kilocharge’s initial proposal.
Hewitt said the company proposed reserving 16 parking spots for eight charging stations at the Unity airport.
“The charging systems all have adapters so that any type of electric vehicle can be connected,” he said.
Kilocharge would keep the revenue from the stations until its installation costs are recouped. After that, the authority would get 25% commission, Hewitt said.
Monzo suggested possibly having fewer spots reserved for the charging systems at first to see how it goes.
“We think it’s a great opportunity for the authority at least to get some electric cars charged here,” he said.
There were questions about how the systems would work in long-term parking situations at the airport. A pilot program was approved earlier this summer at Twin Lakes Park after Westmoreland County commissioners OK’d a five-year contract with Kilocharge to place one station near the boathouse area at the park in Hempfield and Unity townships.
Kilocharge president and founder Richard DiMarco said his company began operations in November and expects to have the Twin Lakes charging station installed by August.
Final pricing has yet to be determined, but DiMarco estimated motorists will likely pay between $2 to $4 for an hours-long charge.
The county will receive 25% of revenue generated once installation costs are covered. More stations could be added there and at other county parks.
In the past few months the airport authority has fielded a few requests about electric charging stations on site, Monzo said. Any agreement would have to be approved by the authority board.
