Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

The City of Lebanon aims to reduce local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2035, and by 100% by 2050. In the transportation sector this will require almost all drivers to switch from gas and diesel vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) or a non-polluting equivalent. EVs save drivers money, produce no tailpipe pollutants that can cause respiratory problems, and their sales prices continue to drop as global competition to manufacture them heats up. EVs reduce GHG emissions by at least two-thirds compared with comparable gas vehicles and more if the electricity comes from renewable sources. All Lebanon residents should have access to these benefits. Many residents (especially renters) cannot charge an EV at home or at work, however, and there are no public chargers in key parts of Lebanon, making it very difficult to switch to an EV. In addition, an increasing number of tourists and other visitors who drive EVs have nowhere to charge in downtown Lebanon or along West Lebanon's Main Street, and thus may avoid visiting those areas, taking their tourism dollars elsewhere. An additional 1.85 million EVs are expected on New England roads within a decade. Installing EV charging benefits the local economy by increasing sales at businesses near the chargers, studies show.

Lebanon intends to install public EV charging at strategically selected locations to service both residents and visitors and to support the local economy.

This RFP seeks to implement this action by developing partnerships between the City and installers/owners/operators of EV charging stations to expand EV charging access in north Lebanon, downtown, near West Lebanon's Main Street, and/or at Lebanon's Municipal Airport. The City is increasing the number of EVs in its municipal fleet and may consider utilizing these chargers as part of its fleet electrification plan.

The City of Lebanon is the employment, commercial, civic, and housing hub for 69 small communities in the rural Upper Connecticut River Valley. Lebanon is at the core of the largest micropolitan statistical area in the country. Situated at the junction of U.S. Interstate Routes 89 and 91, Lebanon itself is a small city with a resident population of approximately 15,000 people, but its daytime population expands to roughly 35,000 as a result of the City’s role as a major regional destination for employment, shopping, and services. EVs are on the rise in Lebanon and the Upper Valley. In Lebanon alone, EVs made up 0.5% of registered vehicles in 2020 and grew to 3.5% in 2024. The daytime population of commuters from outside Lebanon brings many more EVs to the City.

Some of our goals are:

1. To reduce citywide GHG emissions by 50% by 2035 and 100% by 2050 in part through installing EV charging stations that will inspire the most people to choose to drive EVs.
2. Show Lebanon’s commitment to reducing GHG emissions and be a model for residents, businesses, and other communities.
3. Promote equitable policies and services so that all Lebanon residents may benefit.
4. Contribute to local economic prosperity and a thriving business economy.
5. Keep Lebanon’s expenses low and generate revenue for the City.

Meeting these targets will require a significant increase in EV adoption rates in Lebanon. Lebanon is requesting proposals for sustainable business models and partnership opportunities with third-party EV charging station (EVCS) providers who will install, operate, maintain, and possibly own publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure, some on City property and some on land owned by our private partners in these efforts. The City may fund the purchase and installation of some of the EVCS with the expectation of recouping its investment over time via property leasing or easements and/or revenue sharing by the EVCS owner/operator.

Sites may include off-street public parking lots, curbside parking spaces, off-street parking facilities such as public parks, and parking lots on private land that are accessible to the public. Lebanon is proposing specific sites for respondents to evaluate and propose options; however, respondents may suggest additional sites for consideration. Proposing more than one type of EVCS is allowed. Proposing EVCS for some sites but not all of them is allowed.

The City of Lebanon may be willing to take on one or more of the following responsibilities:

• Funding some or all of the EV charging infrastructure, which could include electrical infrastructure, hardware, network, installation costs and materials;
• Pre-vetting of City-owned sites by the City and Liberty Utilities;
• Being a landlord and site owner willing to provide leases or easements on City property;
• Recruiting and coordinating with private-sector partners as site hosts;
• Enforcing proper use of EVCS and EV parking;
• Streamlining funding opportunities and leading on grant applications;
• Utilizing and promoting public charging infrastructure for the City fleet;
• Making available data on EV registrations in the City;
• Promoting EV charging stations and educating residents on the importance of transitioning to electric mobility, and
• Maintenance of parking spaces after EVCS installation (e.g. street sweeping, snow removal, etc.)

Sources of Financing and Funding

Lebanon applied for federal funding for EVCS development in 2023 through the first round of the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) grant program that was funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. The City was not awarded a grant but was ranked 'Highly Recommended.' The State of New Hampshire then invited Lebanon to include its proposed EVCS sites in the State's application for a Round 2 CFI grant. The federal government obligated $15 million to the State of New Hampshire in January 2025 to fund the State's CFI proposal. The Trump Administration announced that it is delaying these and other expenditures; that action is being challenged in court cases. If the CFI grant funding is released to New Hampshire, the State and the City of Lebanon will negotiate an agreement for transfer of approximately $5 million to the City for EVCS installations.

The CFI funds would cover 80% of the costs of installation and of the first 5 years of operation and maintenance. The other 20% would come primarily from Lebanon's public-private partners such as site owners or third-party EVCS owners/operators.

In addition to potential CFI grant funding, the Lebanon City Manager has stated that TIF District (Tax Increment Financing District) funds may be used to finance EVCS deployment in Lebanon's downtown TIF District, especially at sites not included in the CFI proposal. See the Downtown TIF District map in the Attachments. The expectation is that these TIF funds would be repaid to the City over time through EVCS users' fees in a revenue-sharing agreement with the EVCS owner/operator.

The City's preference is to use grant funds preferentially over TIF funds or bond funding for EVCS development, though a few of the proposed installations do not qualify for a CFI grant and could be funded by TIF funds if the City decides to pursue them. See more details in the Attachment describing proposed sites.