Steve Thurston (2021)
Sarene Shanus and Steve Coons cut the ribbon with ceremonial scissors. Assemblyman Matt Simpson and County Board Chair Rachel Seeber are left of them. ARCC Executive Director Michael Bittel is to the right.
Taking advantage of Earth Day, business owners, Adirondack Chamber members and politicians gathered to celebrate and cut the ribbon on a group of 10 electric vehicle charging stations at the Outlet Mall in Queensbury. The only thing that dampened the spirits was the near freezing temperature and the light snow blowing around.
“Next time, I promise you hot chocolate,” Serene Shanus, the owner of Northway Outlets, LLC, told those gathered.
Her company worked with Livingstone Energy Group, which built and installed the charging stations, and National Grid to supply power.
Located at 1415 Route 9 in Queensbury, one driveway south of the Stewart’s Shop, the stations are intended to meet the needs of locals and tourists, the speakers of the day said.
“I’m really excited to hear about this partnership,” said Assemblyman Matt Simpson just before the ceremony. It meets some challenges and fits with his worldview that business and environmental care can go hand-in-hand. “We can do both. This is a great example.”
Shanus said she was happy that the stations will help local shoppers and tourists.
“Employees are [already] parking there,” she said. Planners chose the location, next to the road, so that people can easily park, charge and walk to the various outlet stores.
Steve Coons, who directed the project for Livingstone Energy, called the stations a boost to the area. Not only can shoppers stop and charge, the location is a great charging station for people from other areas to recharge, shop and move on to Lake George, Lake Placid and Plattsburgh.
The chargers are payable via credit card or app. A typical charge is hard to guess, but an estimate would be $6 to $8, Spencer Thibault with Livingston Energy said.