Those with electric vehicles soon will be able to charge them for free at a solar canopy with an EV charging station being built in the Festus Public Library parking lot.
The project is part of an overall energy conservation/renewable energy initiative the Festus City Council approved in 2022, Festus City Administrator Greg Camp said. He said the initiative calls for the city to spend approximately $2.58 million for improvements to various municipal buildings and properties.
On Oct. 26, Camp said Reinhold Electric started building the solar canopy and charging station outside the library in late October, and it is expected to be completed by mid-November.
“(The EV charging station) is a service the City Council felt was important to provide, especially for the downtown area,” Camp said.
He said the solar canopy and charging station will cost $151,000 and is part of a larger library improvement project.
Camp said the city has allocated $664,596 for the Festus Library improvements, which also include tuckpointing, waterproofing and recaulking; HVAC replacement; and LED light retrofitting.
Camp said use of the EV charging station will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
The city has a professional contract with Veregy, the company overseeing the overall energy saving/renewable energy initiative program.
Over the summer, a $285,360 solar panel installation project was completed at Festus City Hall.