GLADSTONE — The Gladstone City Commission voted to forego moving forward with electric vehicle charging stations at this time. Commissioners agreed this was the best course of action until there is more evidence the demand for stations would justify the expense.

A grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), if awarded, would provide up to a $70,000 rebate toward fast electric vehicle (EV) chargers. EGLE states the goal of the grants is to incentivize the build-out of an EV fast-charging network across Michigan. The benefits of a move toward electric vehicles include better air quality and lower vehicle emissions, resulting in better health for people and the environment.

The EGLE grant would cover up to half the cost of the charging station. The rest of the funding would come from WPPI contributing $5,000, the Downtown Development Authority providing $5,000 and $40,000 from the city.

A key factor in the commission’s decision to not move forward was the demand charge such a large draw on electricity would incur. According to Renewable Energy World’s website, “Utilities apply demand charges based on the maximum amount of power that a customer used in any interval (typically 15 minutes) during the billing cycle.”

The commission estimated that an EV station would generate a large enough draw on electricity to incur a monthly demand charge of around $500. The large up-front investment combined with a significant ongoing demand charge led the commission to decide against pursuing an EV station at this time. The commission remains open to installing an EV station in the future, should it present a better guarantee of return on investment.

In other business:

– The Gladstone Water Plant will purchase regenerated Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) from Calgon Corporation for $74,800. The decision to go with regenerated carbon instead of virgin carbon in water plant filters will save the city almost $20,000. GAC filters reduce disinfection by-products in drinking water. The process of regenerating the carbon enables it to be reused after contaminants are removed and additional virgin carbon is added back in. The water plant began using GAC in March 2016 as an effective way to meet EGLE and EPA drinking water regulations.

– The city will move forward on a Coleman Engineering proposal for professional engineering services related to painting the Water Treatment Plant.