Whalen Insurance, located at 71 King St in Northampton, now has six new EV chargers installed beneath and powered by their solar canopy. These charging stations are operational and available for public use, charge up to 7.2 kW of power at a cost of $2 per hour, and there are no parking fees to access these chargers. PV Squared installed both the EV chargers and 62.64 kW solar canopy.

The EV project was funded primarily by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) for Public Access Level-2 EV Charging Stations, as a result of the Volkswagen diesel emissions settlement. In 2015, Volkswagen admitted to secretly and intentionally installing software in vehicles to cheat state emissions tests, which raised the levels of smog-causing nitrogen oxides (NOx) up to 40 times higher than permitted.

Massachusetts received a partial settlement, and the money is being used to increase the amount of EV charging and infrastructure and promote more electric vehicle usage throughout the Commonwealth. The goal is to increase air quality and reduce particulate pollution by creating a cleaner transportation sector.

The Level-2 EV charging station at Whalen Insurance is contributing to the larger environmental goals of the state, while also directly benefiting the local community. Peter Whalen and Janna Ugone own the EV chargers. In addition to the EV charging station, Peter Whalen of Whalen Insurance has invested in six solar projects, totaling 127.92 kW, on various properties in Northampton. On an annual basis, these solar arrays produce a combined 141,591 kWh of electricity, which is equivalent to 110 tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2). This translates to an environmental offset of CO2 emissions from 11,265 gallons of gasoline consumed and 110,308 pounds of coal burned. Peter also loves driving his electronic vehicle.

“I first started investing in renewable energy projects in 2014, and plan to continue supporting clean energy and clean transportation in the coming years. My goal is to be almost completely independent of the use of fossil fuels. I’m really excited about the new EV chargers behind the Whalen Insurance office for the community to use,” said Peter Whalen. In addition to investing in renewables and running Whalen Insurance, Peter is a lifelong resident of Northampton. He serves on local boards and supports non-profits and community groups.

PV Squared’s Commercial Design & Sales Consultant, Josh Hilsdon, says, “It’s rare that we get the opportunity to work with the same client over more than half a dozen projects, and we applaud Peter for his leadership in bringing solar and now EV chargers to his properties. If only there were more Peter Whalen’s out there, we’d be a lot farther along on the necessary transition to clean energy.”

Whalen Insurance provides home, business, and auto insurance throughout western Massachusetts and beyond. For more information about the EV Chargers, please call Peter at 413-586-1000.