How Cleco Power Is Making Louisiana a More EV-Friendly State

According to a February 2024 study by iSeeCars, a car search and research company, Louisiana has 6,515 residents per charger compared to the national average of 1,848 residents per charger. The ranking distributed in the study was based on information from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center through 2023. iSeeCars ranked states by the ratio of residents to EV chargers. States with the most publicly accessible chargers per number of residents were categorized as the 10 most EV-friendly, while those with the fewest chargers per number of residents were categorized as the 10 least EV-friendly.

These numbers show there’s a lot of room for EV growth in Louisiana, which is why Cleco Power is participating in the Adopt a Charger program. This is one of several Cleco Power electrification initiatives that support the company’s overarching vision.

“Our vision is to become the leading clean energy company in the state, and this vision is being driven by decarbonization,” said Bill Fontenot, president and CEO of Cleco Corporate Holdings. “The global effort to reduce carbon emissions is creating cleaner, energy-saving solutions for customers, while also opening up opportunities for Cleco Power to expand and contribute to the state’s economic growth, benefiting all our communities.”

In Madisonville, Louisiana guest can charge their vehicles for free at the new electric vehicle charging stations installed at the Maritime Museum.

What is Adopt a Charger?

Adopt a Charger was established in 2011 to accelerate the use of plug-in EVs by installing free public charging stations at popular locations such as libraries, parks, museums and colleges. The program has facilitated the successful installation of over 600 EV charging stations in 15 states.

Program representatives handle both sponsorship and site selection. They secure sponsors, like Cleco Power, to cover the installation costs, identify sites and then recruit site owners to host charging stations at their facility and let EV owners charge for free.

“The goal is to facilitate free community charging because it encourages EV adoption and attracts visitors, boosting tourism,” said Kitty Adams Hoksbergen, executive director of Adopt a Charger. “When people spot an EV on the road, they don’t automatically know how it’s powered. The ‘aha’ moment happens when they see the car plugged into a charging station at places they frequent. From there, they can talk to EV owners, learn about their experiences and discover the benefits of driving electric.”

Cleco Power’s research shows that expanding public Level 2 and DC Fast charging access will be a driving force for the growth of EVs in Louisiana. The strategy is to deploy Level 2 destination chargers, as they provide the most impact per dollar for both current and future EV owners. This approach will work because these chargers operate on 208 volts or 240 volts of electricity, which is a common voltage at commercial facilities.

Level 1 chargers can be plugged into a standard 120-volt electrical outlet and provide approximately two to five miles of range per hour of charging. They are commonly used for overnight charging.
Level 2 chargers can be plugged into a 208-volt or 240-volt electrical outlet similar to those used for large household appliances like electric dryers and ovens. They provide approximately 30 miles of range per hour of charging and are commonly found at public charging stations and workplaces.
DC Fast chargers provide the fastest charging speeds for EVs. They have a wide range of charging speeds and can add as many as 200 miles in 15 minutes, making them ideal for long-distance travel or a fast charge. DC Fast chargers are typically found along major highways.

Is the Adopt a Charger strategy working?

Cleco Power and Adopt a Charger started working together in 2023. Under the partnership, up to 30 new Level 2 chargers will be installed across St. Tammany Parish, which is in the southeastern part of the state near the New Orleans metropolitan area.

In December 2023, Adopt a Charger facilitated the installation of six charging stations at Pelican Park in Mandeville, Louisiana.
In July 2024, two more charging stations were installed at the Maritime Museum in Madisonville, Louisiana, which specializes in the display of objects related to ships and travel on large bodies of water.

"Our primary reason for installing the EV chargers was to draw more visitors to the museum and Madisonville,” said Jim MacPherson, executive director of the Maritime Museum. “Guests can charge their vehicles for free while visiting. With more EVs on the road, there’s a clear need for more infrastructure. By supporting this initiative, the museum is improving our environment and helping grow our local economy."

In October 2023 and separate from Adopt a Charger, Cleco Power helped the town of Washington install its first Level 2 EV charging station. Washington, located in St. Landry Parish in the central part of the state, is one of the first small towns off Interstate 49 in Louisiana to offer free public charging.

“Our strategy is to tap into this new market and use it to attract visitors and grow our local economy,” said Town of Washington Mayor Dwight Landreneau. “We’re right off a major interstate, so our new charging station is easily accessible to travelers. Visitors can eat and shop while charging their EV at no cost.”

GSE Integrated, the company hired to install the EV charging equipment, dug the trench for the electrical conduits needed to supply power to the charging stations.

How expensive is it to install a charging station?

“To install the charging stations at the Maritime Museum, Adopt a Charger hired GSE Integrated, an electrical contractor focusing primarily on residential home services and new construction,” said Hoksbergen. “The total cost was approximately $10,000, and it covered the behind-the-meter infrastructure, three years of maintenance, parking lot striping, EV signage and insurance.”

Erik Mollerberg, lead operations manager for GSE Integrated, installs the conduit used to protect and route the electrical wiring for the EV charging stations.

GSE Integrated employees, Erik Mollerberg (left), lead operations manager, and Kenneth Stephenson, service technician, setup the EV charging station framing equipment.

According to Hoksbergen, this same install would have cost approximately $30,000 in a state like California.

“Installing charging stations in Louisiana is more economical which is why I love Louisiana and working with Cleco Power on this project,” said Hoksbergen.

Cleco Power is sponsoring the installation costs in partnership with a non-profit organization located in St. Tammany Parish called the Northshore Community Foundation which unites human and financial resources to enhance the quality of life.

The budget for the Adopter a Charger project in St. Tammany Parish is $250,000.

“Our role is to work side-by-side with people, companies and partners who share our mission to create healthy, safe and thriving communities,” said Leslie Landry, president and CEO of the Northshore Community Foundation. “This project is about making our communities thrive, so we are proud to partner with Cleco Power and Adopt a Charger.”

What utility infrastructure is required?

A typical new service requires poles, primary and secondary lines and transformers. However, if there’s existing electrical infrastructure near the Level 2 charger locations, only minor upgrades are needed to accommodate the additional load. Once the behind-the-meter infrastructure is complete, Cleco Power’s line technicians connect the service to the grid. From there, EV owners can plug in.

What about the additional electricity usage?

The additional electricity costs will depend on the customer’s electric service rate, the amount of electricity used monthly and load.

Last year, Cleco Power introduced a new EV charging rider specifically for larger public charging stations. This rider aims to reduce demand charges, which helps offset the typically low load factor associated with DC fast charging. It offers significant benefits to new locations with low charger utilization but high demand.

For smaller installations, customers may find Cleco Power’s General Service Non-Demand rate more advantageous. This rate eliminates demand charges if monthly energy usage remains below 5,000 kilowatt hours, offering cost-effective electricity for small commercial electric services.

Cleco Power employees, Thailyr Spears (left), power line technician II, and Robert Dewitt, power line technician IV, install new underground service triplex cables to power the new EV meter center.

Cleco Power employee James Bergeron, power line technician III, connects underground service wire to an overhead service wire with a squeeze-on connector.

Kevin Bono, Cleco Power’s supervisor of distribution construction, marks the underground service at the EV meter center with colored tape. This tape matches the underground riser, allowing for quick identification and troubleshooting in the future if needed.

How will Louisiana drivers benefit from EVs?

For starters, the environmental benefits are strong. EVs charged on Cleco Power’s grid emit 50 percent fewer lifetime greenhouse gas emissions compared to internal combustion vehicles. Additionally, EV drivers in Louisiana can expect to spend 30 to 60 percent less on fuel, which is a great benefit, particularly for rural customers who drive more miles than the typical driver. Many EV drivers in Louisiana also praise their quiet operation, fast acceleration and the convenience of at-home charging.

From left to right: Cleco Power employees Kale Scheuermann, engineer II, Darwin Ebare, intern, and Richard Biedenharn, EV program Manager, celebrate the completion of the EV charging stations with Leslie Landry, president and CEO of the Northshore Community Foundation, Jim MacPherson, executive director of the Maritime Museum, Alexis Hocevar, president of the museum’s board of directors, and Erik Mollerberg, lead operations manager for GSE Integrated.

To further support its electrification strategy and the transition to all electric technologies, Cleco Power offers incentives to residential and commercial customers who install EV charging equipment. Residential customers can receive a $250 incentive for installing a Level 2 charger at their home, and commercial customers can receive up to $3,500 per plug, depending on the type of charger.

Organizations and companies interested in hosting public charging stations in Cleco Power’s service territory should contact [email protected].