Today, AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) marks World Environment Day by announcing plans to expand its partnership with Nissan North America to provide 3.2 million customers and employees across New York, New England and Oregon with a $5,000 discount on the purchase of a Nissan LEAF electric vehicle (EV). In addition, the company announced plans to increase its own EV fleet by 75 percent, and reiterated a $34 million investment in the expansion of EV charging infrastructure across Maine and New York.
“As one of the cleanest U.S. energy companies, we are committed to investing in innovative and sustainable energy solutions for our customers,” said James P. Torgerson, AVANGRID’s chief executive officer. “Demand for clean energy goes beyond powering our homes and businesses. Enabling customers to invest in electrified transportation by expanding our incentives and charging infrastructure is yet another component to ensuring a secure energy future.”
“Nissan supports programs that increase EV adoption and we’re very happy to see companies like AVANGRID offering these types of discounts to employees and customers,” said Michael Arbuckle, senior manager, EV sales and fleet, Nissan North America. “And with the recent introduction of the LEAF PLUS, with a range of up to 226 miles, people will now be able to choose the LEAF that best fits their driving needs.”
The Nissan LEAF is the best-selling electric vehicle ever, with more than 400,000 vehicles sold globally. Launched in October 2018, AVANGRID subsidiaries Rochester Electric & Gas (RG&E) in New York and United Illuminating (UI) in Connecticut initially offered the discount program to customers and employees. The expanded program will now be made available to Central Maine Power (CMP) and New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) customers, as well as all AVANGRID and subsidiary employees. Customers are encouraged to visit www.energy.gov to learn more about federal and state EV tax credits and other incentives.
In Maine, CMP has committed $5 million to fund the development of EV infrastructure across the state by offering rebates and support for EV purchases and charging station development. In New York, NYSEG and RG&E have implemented three EV pilot projects and have proposed a $29 million EV program to expand charging infrastructure across the companies’ service areas—encompassing more than 45,000 miles across the state.
AVANGRID has also committed to increasing its own EV fleet by 75 percent in 2019. To further promote the use of EV transportation among its employees, the company has expanded on-site chargers for employees’ personal use.
In 2016, AVANGRID became the first U.S. energy company to set a goal for carbon-neutrality. The company pledged to reduce emissions intensity from power plants 25% by 2020, and to be carbon neutral by 2035. Avangrid Renewables is the third-largest U.S. wind producer, owning and operating 6.6 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar generation. With an owned capacity that is 89% emissions-free, the energy delivered from AVANGRID’s renewable energy facilities has allowed customers to avoid 12 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to removing 2.55 million cars from the road annually. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.