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BERLIN, Conn., April 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Northeast Utilities  announced today it is in the initial stages of developing an electric charging infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The initiative supports regional and national policy goals which include reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on petroleum-based resources.

In a recent application for a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant, two NU operating companies, The Connecticut Light & Power Company (CL&P) and Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO), are proposing to build a network of 575 charging stations over the next two years. The plan calls for a geographically diverse combination of home-based, workplace and publicly-accessible sites in the utilities’ existing service territories. The companies are collaborating with New England-based Environment Northeast, the Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition, and the Town of West Hartford, Conn., on key aspects of the project including location selection and results monitoring.

“We see extraordinary potential in electric transportation as one of the tools to help meet the environmental and energy policy objectives of our regional and national leaders,” said James B. Robb, NU senior vice president of enterprise planning and development. “As the next generation of vehicles gets introduced, likely late in 2010, we want to be sure that New England is among the first markets. The development of a charging infrastructure is important, both to support the adoption of these exciting new vehicles and to allow us to assess the impact on our electric distribution system.”

“For sustainable technologies such as alternative fuel vehicles to really take hold and deliver significant benefits, a collaborative effort between policy makers, businesses and other stakeholders is required,” said State Representative Vickie Nardello, House chair for the Connecticut General Assembly’s Energy & Technology Committee. “NU’s program is a necessary catalyst and part of the forward-thinking solutions we must embrace for a viable and sustainable future.”

“Plug-in hybrids and other electric vehicles are going to be important components of our green energy future, but they won’t work without a network of charging stations. I applaud Northeast Utilities for looking into the future and making this initial proposal to meet that need in their service territories,” said Philip Giudice, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

NU has been working with the Electric Power and Research Institute (EPRI) in a collaborative effort to understand the utility impacts of plug-in electric vehicles. As part of NU’s strategies for carbon reduction and sustainability, the company has several other forward-looking initiatives under way. In particular, the EV charging network complements the Smart Grid pilots at CL&P and WMECO, and is consistent with the planned expansion of company energy efficiency programs. “In addition, our transmission development program, which will facilitate the integration of low-carbon energy into the New England power supply, provides even more leverage to the environmental benefits of electric vehicles,” noted Robb.

The DOE’s decision is expected in June 2009. NU’s application requested federal funding of $693,750 which is fifty percent of the project’s total estimated cost of $1,387,500. “This is an initial proposal and we will be developing more specifics of the program over the summer, including substantial outreach to various stakeholders to help us maximize the impact of the grant,” Robb said. “We are also examining opportunities to participate with other stakeholders in additional federal grant opportunities to advance the electrification of transportation.”