DATE: November 24, 2014
CONTACT: Maribel Feliciano, Planning Administrator
Planning and Redevelopment Division
PHONE: 954-519-1424
EMAIL: mfeliciano@broward.org
BROWARD COUNTY, FL – Broward County has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for its leadership in promoting the use of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and the expansion of the County's PEV charging infrastructure.
The recognition took place last week during the first Workplace Charging Challenge Summit in Alexandria, Virginia, where the DOE honored employers who demonstrated leadership in supporting the development of the national PEV charging infrastructure.
On March 7, 2012, President Obama announced the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge, a “Clean Energy Grand Challenge,” with the goal of enabling the United States to be the first in the world, within the next 10 years, to produce PEVs that are affordable and convenient for the average American family as today’s gasoline-powered vehicles. As part of the EV Challenge, DOE launched the "Workplace Charging Challenge" in January 2013, with the goal of increasing the number of American employers offering workplace charging tenfold by 2018. Broward joined in December 2013, as the first county government partner nationwide.
"Joining the Challenge was one of the recommendations of the "Climate Change Element" adopted by the Board of County Commissioners in 2013. The County worked with local, regional, state and federal partners to develop a strategy to increase plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) public infrastructure,” said Henry Sniezek, Director of the Planning and Redevelopment Division. “We are leading by example by offering workplace charging stations to our employees in collaboration with the Facilities Management Division.”
Broward was one of the few selected Challenge partners who received this recognition. Other recipients included Google, 3M, Samsung, Verizon, General Motors and the Coca-Cola Company.
The County is planning to install charging stations for employees at Government Center West in Plantation by December 2014, and other facilities next year.
About Planning and Redevelopment
The Planning and Redevelopment Division leads and participates in multiple programs, including managing the County's sustainability and redevelopment planning initiatives; coordinating corridor redevelopment plans that will increase the tax base; preparing and administering elements of the Broward County Comprehensive Plan; participating in municipal and unincorporated area redevelopment; coordinating the implementation of Complete Streets; supporting the County’s renewable energy and climate resiliency initiatives; promoting compliance with community standards in unincorporated areas through enforcement of applicable zoning codes and regulations; administering the Broward County Land Development Code; and overseeing site plan review for the unincorporated area. The Division also evaluates rezoning requests, land use plan amendments and land use compatibility reviews; maintains demographic and economic databases; conducts research and analyses; develops Geographic Information System (GIS) applications; and coordinates the County’s GIS Program. For more information visit Broward.org/Regulation.