WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — The City of Warner Robins took a step toward a greener future and city revitalization on Wednesday, unveiling three new electric vehicle (EV) chargers on South Armed Forces Boulevard.
The project, a collaboration between the city, the Downtown Development Authority, Flint Energies and the Clean Air Coalition, aims to meet the growing demand for EV infrastructure while stimulating local economic growth.
"I think it's important and I think that they are already ahead of the game to some other cities. They're doing a great job in planning," said David Danzie Jr., an electric vehicle owner. "I think the benefit is the more charging stations you have and obviously you don't want to have too many, but the more charging stations you have that are suitable, the more you will be able to drive the economy and have more people who have EVs coming into your city and spending money, which is really what we want."
The installation comes as EV adoption in the area surges. According to Marian McLemore, at Flint Energies, "Just in Houston County, the growth of EV ownership has grown 40% within the last year. So yes, we have seen an increase.”
This rapid growth underscores the need for more public charging options. While some charging stations exist at commercial locations like Buc-ee’s and certain hotels, public options have been limited.
"As far as the public, you know, just random areas without a commercial support for that, there's not that many," McLemore said. "So we were excited to partner with the city to have one that was more of a public-facing charger."
The project goes beyond just providing a service for EV owners. City officials plan to use revenue from the chargers, after covering maintenance costs, to fund community improvements such as public art and small business support. Danzie sees this as a win-win for the community.
"I think it's actually beneficial for businesses to see that the city is helping them and wanting to create this fund that will actually be used to benefit them," he said. "And so when you feel that support and you feel like people are wanting to support you, then you're going to see that driving the economy and driving those small businesses."
For Flint Energies, this project aligns with their evolving role in the community.
"We are in the business of serving electricity and electric vehicles are very much the modern appliance," McLemore said. "When Flint Energy started in 1937, ovens and refrigerators were the new modern electric appliance and we ended up having to educate our members, our consumer members on how to use those appliances. And that's pretty much where we're at right now."
Both the city and its partners are keeping an eye on future expansion. With the unveiling of this initial project, Mayor LaRhonda Patrick released the following statement to 13WMAZ:
“We are extremely grateful for the support from Flint Energies and the Middle Georgia Clean Air Coalition in this transformative project. A special thank you to Councilman Holmes for his efforts in securing funds from the Middle Georgia Clean Air Coalition, which helped make this initiative possible. Their contributions, alongside our city's commitment, showcase the power of collaboration in advancing Warner Robins toward a more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable future. These new EV charging stations are a key step in reducing our carbon footprint and encouraging the adoption of clean energy practices. Together, we are ensuring Warner Robins remains a leader in innovative solutions for generations to come.”