Public network of charging stations for electric vehicles already has 25 stations in the Azores
The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism stated today that the public network of fast charging station for electric vehicles in the Azores already has 25 stations, safeguarding the comprehensive and balanced coverage of all islands and municipalities.
Marta Guerreiro spoke at the opening of the Vila do Corvo charging station in partnership with the local authority. On the occasion, she highlighted the “essential participation of the Azorean municipalities in the implementation of electric mobility, in close collaboration with the Regional Government, implementing the regional energy policy towards the electrification of land transport in the archipelago."
"We did not follow this path of striving for cleaner territory on our own," the government official said, adding that there was "a collective effort" and a "spirit of cooperation" that is quite evident in the promotion of electric mobility.
“Aware of the importance of the role that we must play in fostering this partnership, we have signed protocols with all municipalities in the Azores, creating a commitment to promote positive discrimination measures for electric vehicle users and the dissemination of electric mobility among citizens and local companies, through awareness-raising actions," stressed the government official.
This year, the Regional Government allocated half a million Euros for financial incentives aimed at encouraging the purchase of electric vehicles and charging stations.
“In force since March 2020, this system has already granted financial incentives to 24 applications, representing 21 light vehicles, three charging stations and three motorised bicycles and the allocation of 70 thousand Euros. The overall investment presented by applicants exceeded 670 thousand Euros and corresponded to 13 applications approved on Terceira Island, 10 on São Miguel Island and one on Flores Island," said the government official.
The Regional Secretary also assured that Corvo Environmental Services will be "soon" equipped with an electric vehicle, besides the investment of 300 thousand Euros in the new facilities of the Island Natural Park and the headquarters of the Biosphere Reserve. According to her, this investment "will ensure better conditions for the workers Regional Director for the Environment and a better response capacity to requests and demands in a structuring area for the future of Corvo and the Azores."
"An infrastructure that will be essential for the application of environmental quality policies and awareness-raising measures that the Regional Government has successfully implemented throughout the archipelago, but also of nature conservation policies and ongoing LIFE projects," said Marta Guerreiro. In this context, she added that, through the implementation of the LIFE Azores Natura project, “the procedures for the recruitment of two operational assistants for the development of the actions planned under the Natura 2000 network on Corvo Island are being finalised."
The Secretary for the Environment also highlighted the approval of Corvo Island Biosphere Reserve Action Plan this week. The document defines “a series of measures aimed at reinforcing a sustainable development model that we aspire to for our islands, with effective community involvement. They are based on scientific knowledge and should be in line with public policies and strategies, promoting the well-being and the prosperity of the populations, reducing biodiversity loss, preserving natural resources and ecosystems, mitigating climate change and promoting the adaptation to its effects."