When she was young, Gina Arresta remembers the little things her grandmother, Teresa Lagalante Scricca, did on a regular basis to be a responsible steward of the earth, long before “going green” was the buzz phrase it is today.
Whether it was wiping down lightly used sheets of aluminum foil to use again, or turning off the water while soaping dishes, Ms. Arresta’s grandmother — who emigrated to the United States from Italy when she was just 19 years old — was always doing her part to reduce unnecessary waste and take good care of the planet. Ms. Arresta absorbed those lessons and is determined to carry them forward in her current capacity as a Southampton Village Trustee, which she says is why she’s passionate about shepherding projects that embrace that same philosophy.
On Monday, after a long delay, one of those projects officially got underway, as ground was broken on one of three electric vehicle charging stations in the works in Southampton Village, at the Long Island Rail Road station on the corner of Maple Street and Railroad Plaza. The village is also working on creating EV charging stations on West Main Street, behind the Southampton Arts Center, and on O’Connell Drive, adjacent to Agawam Park. The West Main Street location will have one level-3 charger, with two plugs, and two level-2 chargers, with four plugs; the railroad station will have two level-2 chargers, with four plugs, and the O’Connell Drive location will have two level-2 chargers, with four plugs. The level-3 chargers provide a faster charge, although not all electronic vehicles are equipped to use them, while the level-2 chargers take longer but will charge most electronic cars.
The chargers are being installed by "Green Energy Technology"
“This marks another step towards our Village’s ‘green’ future,” she said late last week. “We are putting our community on the map for environmental sustainability. Earlier this summer, the board enacted the climate emergency resolution and formed a committee that will help ensure our governmental decisions and policies are environmentally informed. I am immensely proud of all the work we have done and that we will continue to accomplish.”
The stations were originally slated to be ready for the Fourth of July weekend, but supply chain issues that have been plaguing nearly every industry set the timetable back a bit.
Getting the stations up and running in 2021 represents some forward thinking and is a proactive move by the board, according to Ms. Arresta.
“I’ve been doing some reading, and it says that in two or three years, most people will have an electric car in the family,” she said. “Moving forward, there will be a bigger need for [charging stations]. If you look around, you’ll see many more electric cards than you’ve ever seen before.”
Ms. Arresta said she has noticed an increase in the number of cars that make use of the Tesla charging stations on County Road 39 in Tuckahoe, and said the village charging stations will be useful because they will serve all electric cars, not just a single brand.
Ms. Arresta added that the stations will benefit residents and visitors alike.
“It will be great for people driving out for the day,” she said. “They can go shopping, and their car will be charged for the trip back home.
“It will be great for residents as well,” she added. “It’s the way of the future.”