The Barrington Town Council has approved the installation of three electric vehicle charging stations.

The council voted to approve the new charging stations during its teleconference meeting on Monday, April 6.

Barrington Town Council President Michael Carroll said there will be two Level II charging stations installed at Police Cove parking lot, and a Level III station will be put at the town hall parking lot. The Level II stations are slower chargers, while the Level III station is a faster charger.

He added that there are economic incentives attached to the installation of the charging stations.

For starters, there is no cost to the town for the installation of the Level II charging stations. He said that because Police Cove's parking lot is a state "Park and Ride" lot, the cost of those chargers will be paid for by a variety of sources, including National Grid and the state's Electrify RI program.

The state's Electrify RI program is expected to pay $30,000, while National Grid will kick in $20,704.

"Barrington will not be contributing to the costs" of those charging stations, he said.

The town will, however, pay for the Level III charging station at the town hall. According to a memo from the town manager, the charging station at the town hall will cost $44,268.

Mr. Carroll said the project will paid for, in part, by money from the town's Capital Reserve Energy Project account.

"This is part of the town's long term energy plans and can ultimately charge town electric vehicles," Mr. Carroll said. "Once it is in, the charging station will be open to all and the town will receive a small amount of income from each charge."

The total cost of a Level III charging station is normally about $200,000, but National Grid and Electrify RI are helping off-set the cost.

According to a town hall memo, the project at Police Cove Park could start within a month.

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