HYANNIS – Hyannis-based Cape Air is continuing its pursuit of environmental and social benefits of the electric propulsion “revolution.”
The company is powering up eight charging stations in its employee parking lots where preferred parking and charging ports will be offered to employees who commute to work in a plug-in vehicle.
“We believe that electric propulsion, both in aviation and ground transportation will propel us further toward our goal of reducing our carbon impact on the global climate crisis,” said Dan Wolf, Cape Air founder and CEO.
“It’s really a great thing the advantages of this technology are going to have a positive impact in all modes of transportation, even on how people get to the workplace.”
The charging stations in Hyannis play a role in the company’s Electric Vehicle Incentive Program which also provides a $1,000 rebate to any employee who buys a new or used plug-in vehicle.
The rebate extends to all Cape Air employees in all regions, and is meant to supplement federal and state electric vehicle tax credits and rebate programs.
“The employees at Cape Air are the backbone of the company, and by virtue of our Employee Stock Ownership Plan, they are also the owners,” said Linda Markham, Cape Air President.
“We believe that these incentives to ‘go electric’ will help all of us at the company to make decisions that are both economically and environmentally sustainable when we are choosing vehicles for our commutes.”
The electricity supplied to employees through the charging stations will be offset by electricity produced by solar panels installed on the roofs at the Cape Air headquarters.
The plan is to give the electricity to employees for free until the end of 2020, after which employees may be charged at a discounted rate.
“We feel that the Electric Vehicle Incentive Program is green and green, it’s good for our employees and all of us in terms of lower operating costs, and the cars are just becoming great vehicles,” said Cape Air Director of Sustainability, Jim Wolf.
“Everything we’ve done in terms of really trying to reduce the company’s carbon footprint, we’ve found that what works for the company on our buildings and with our vehicles works just as well for our employees.”
Employees at Cape Air have been enthusiastic about the Electric Vehicle Incentive Program, “it kind of completes a circle for me,” said Brett Stone, Cape Air Manager of Network Operations.
“Back when the company was putting up its first solar system, I decided to put one on my house. The solar panels have fully paid for themselves and now the money from making electricity on my roof, along with the Cape Air and government EV incentives, are basically paying for my new car. Being able to plug in at work is a great convenience.”
To learn more about Cape Air’s sustainability initiative, visit www.capeair.com/about_us/cape-air-sustainability-programs.html.
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