Just west of downtown Denver, nestled against the picturesque Sloan’s Lake, six new electric vehicle charging stations are powered up and ready to serve the residents of the Sienna on Sloan’s Lake affordable housing community.
These chargers, installed in collaboration with Xcel Energy, the City of Denver, Buzze EV Charging Solutions and Koelbel and Company, are bringing energy solutions straight to the heart of the neighborhood – making cleaner, more affordable transportation a viable option for previously underserved households.
This project was made possible by Xcel Energy’s Colorado EV infrastructure program, which is investing approximately $80 million to help commercial customers design, build and install EV charging stations where they’re needed most. And it’s all being done with accessibility at the center.
Over 60% of projects funded through the Colorado EV Infrastructure program are located in disproportionately impacted communities – empowering EV adoption by providing a clean, reliable and cost-effective alternative to fueling gas-powered vehicles.
“This project is about more than installing chargers. It’s about opening doors,” said Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy – Colorado. “We believe the future of transportation is electric – and to support our customers on that journey, we must ensure charging is available, affordable, and equitable in every community.”
And while these chargers are expected to make a big impact on the Sienna on Sloan’s Lake community, there’s a lot more on the horizon.
Through this partnership, 24 of Buzze’s 25 current rebate program projects will benefit multifamily income qualified communities, 14 of which contribute to Koelbel and Company’s affordable rental properties.
On expanding electric vehicle charging stations throughout Colorado, Buzze CEO Aaron Lieberman said, “we’re going to do 600 across the city, and Xcel is helping pay for every single one of those.”
Colorado currently leads the nation in EV adoption, and initiatives like this provide the necessary foundation for customers to continue making the switch.
In 2018, Xcel Energy set an industry-leading goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. A critical component of that vision included enabling charging infrastructure to support 1.5 million electric vehicles by 2035 – a reality these meaningful partnerships are building one charger at a time.
