NRG Energy to build comprehensive electric vehicle charging network in California

The California Public Utilities Commission and NRG Energy (NRG) have entered into an agreement which gives NRG the right to build an extensive electric vehicle (EV) charging network in California. The project will require an investment of approximately US$100 million over the next four years. The fee-based charging network will have at least 200 publicly available fast-charging stations within the San Francisco Bay area, the San Joaquin Valley, the Los Angeles Basin and San Diego County. The charging stations will have the capability to add 50 miles of range during a charging time of less than 15 minutes. NRG’s EV infrastructure commitment also includes the wiring for at least 10,000 individual charging stations across California located at homes, offices, multi-family communities, schools and hospitals. “With this agreement, the people of California will gain a charging infrastructure ready to support their current and future fleet of electric vehicles,” said David Crane, NRG’CEO. “And we will be helping the State meet its clean car goals as embodied by its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate.” The agreement, which is still awaiting approvals and finalization, will resolve an outstanding litigation concerning a long-term electricity contract which was entered into more than a decade ago by a subsidiary of Dynegy, Inc., which at that time was a co-owner of NRG. In 2006, after acquiring Dynergy’s 50% interest in assets, NRG assumed full responsibility for resolving this issue. “California already leads the way in the development of an alternative energy transportation sector and, with the price of gasoline above US$4 per gallon and rising, all Americans need to be giving serious consideration to the increasingly attractive electric vehicle alternative to what former President Bush called ‘our national addiction to foreign oil’,” Crane explained. “This network will be built with private funds on a sustainable business model that will allow NRG to maintain and grow the network as EV adoption grows.” (March 23, 2012)