In coordination with the university’s Environmental Advisory Board (EAB), Hollins has installed its first electric vehicle charging station.
Located in the Dana Science Building/Moody Student Center parking lot, the SemaConnect charging station is fully operational and available for use free-of-charge by Hollins students, faculty, and staff.
Vice President for Finance and Administration Kerry Edmonds says the station offers a number of benefits to Hollins.
“It supports those who already use electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids to commute to and from work or school, and encourages others to consider green modes of transportation for themselves. It also sends a clear message to campus visitors and prospective students that Hollins is committed to clean transportation and our green campus mission.”
The charging station was the winning proposal from the campus community in 2018 for using the university’s Green Fee. Established by students in 2008, the Green Fee is a $5 charge that is added to undergraduates’ tuition each semester. It funds projects that uphold Hollins’ commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, conserving energy, and/or supporting the institution’s sustainability efforts. The university welcomes Green Fee proposals each spring, evaluates project ideas, and makes recommendations to the President for approval.
Edmonds notes that while access to the charging station is currently limited to students and employees, “we will monitor usage by the campus community on an ongoing basis and then determine whether to open the station to the general public.”