For the past two years, the Mountain Association’s Energy Team has been working closely with businesses, nonprofits and local governments on Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure on how to make smart decisions around beneficial locations for chargers, types of chargers available and electric costs to operate.
This blog is a part of a series on EV charging in Eastern Kentucky.
At The Center at Kentucky Highlands in London, growth and innovation often take practical forms—new services, new partnerships, and new opportunities for the region. This February, the Center added another resource for the community: a free EV charging station designed to support businesses, visitors, and local residents.
The project reflects the Center’s commitment to creating a welcoming environment where businesses can thrive, and communities can grow. The charging station was made possible through partnerships and donations from Jackson Energy, Adopt a Charger, and CoBank, and implemented by Solclusion.
A Hub for the Future
The Center’s two new Level 2 EV chargers allow drivers to recharge their vehicles fully in about 4–8 hours, making it ideal for people working on-site, attending meetings, or using the Center’s services. Offering free charging provides a practical benefit for community members and visitors, while helping the facility stay competitive and forward-looking.
The Center at Kentucky Highlands is a one-stop shop for all things entrepreneurial. It houses the business assistance providers for free, provides below-market-rate office space, conference and training rooms, and many other resources.
According to Sandi Curd, the Engagement Director at The Center at Kentucky Highlands, the new charging station is more than an amenity—it is part of a broader vision to create spaces where innovation, entrepreneurship and community come together. By investing in infrastructure that serves both people and businesses, the Center continues to help shape a stronger regional future.
“Adding the EV Charger to our center tells the world we want to meet entrepreneurs where they are and support their interests and passions,” said Sandi.
Supporting Regional Opportunity
In rural Kentucky, transportation plays a central role in daily life and economic opportunities. As EVs become more common across the country, accessible charging infrastructure helps communities stay connected to changing technology and transportation trends. EV registration in Kentucky went from approximately 11,000 in 2024 to 24,000 in 2025. Without adequate EV infrastructure in Eastern Kentucky, we may be limiting the people who are travelling to our communities to work, visit, and, of course, spend money.
The project also demonstrates how collaboration can bring new resources and infrastructure to Appalachian communities. Several groups are working together to meet the gap in our charging infrastructure. Groups including Solclusion, Rural Reimagined, and Mountain Association bring funding, equipment, and technical expertise to support charger installations. Much of Mountain Association’s ability to do this work has been powered by General Motors, who has supported our energy experts to provide technical assistance for these projects and supported some installation costs throughout the region.
“Mountain Association’s goal is to support economic opportunities that come with charging stations by providing technical assistance to determine if a charger would be advantageous for a business or town, and helping communities access funding resources,” said Hope Broecker, Energy Specialist with Mountain Association, who leads our EV work.
Community organizations, businesses, and local governments interested in exploring EV charging solutions can connect with Mountain Association to learn more about project planning and funding opportunities.
Contact Hope at Hope@mtassociation.org with any questions.
To learn more about our Energy Program, including our free billing review and savings consults, visit here: https://mtassociation.org/energy/
Additional Resources:
Department of Transportation’s EV Toolkit explores various benefits and resources: https://www.transportation.gov/rural/ev/toolkit/ev-benefits-and-challenges/community-benefits
Rocky Mountain Institute provides a projection and analysis of EV cars in the next 10 years: https://rmi.org/press-release/evs-to-surpass-two-thirds-of-global-car-sales-by-2030-putting-at-risk-nearly-half-of-oil-demand-new-research-finds/
The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation provide resources to help transportation stakeholders plan EV charging infrastructure. Here is a map of charging stations already in place: https://driveelectric.gov/stations
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program provides funding to states to strategically deploy EV chargers and to establish an interconnected network: https://afdc.energy.gov/laws/12744
