St. Lawrence University recently received a donation of more electric vehicle chargers, continuing its pursuit of being more sustainable. SLU is “fostering a passion for environmental stewardship in all Laurentians,” as the school’s sustainability mission statement reads, and it is dedicated to keeping an environmentally friendly campus. But the effects of vehicles on the environment depend on more than whether a car is electric or not.  

“She put the environmental bug in me,” said Harvey Meer ’64, while explaining that his daughter was a contributing factor to his interest in a more sustainable way of life. The switch he made from a “gas guzzler” to a Tesla sparked his idea of donating two new ChargePoint Level 2 electric vehicle chargers to SLU. These new chargers, which have now tripled the number on campus, can be found in the parking lot of Vilas Hall. “I’m old enough to see the effects of global warming, and people may want to deny it, but you’re denying what you can see,” said Harvey when asked why he donated the chargers.   

Electric vehicles are zero-emission, meaning they do not emit CO2 into the atmosphere. The energy comes from different sources that are supplied to the electrical grid the system of outlets for energy, and have various effects on the environment. “How clean that is depends on your sources of energy and where that energy comes from,” said the Chair of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering department and professor at Clarkson University Brian Helenbrook. Wind turbines, solar, hydropower, coal and natural gasses are common energy sources, but each has its own effects on the environment. “So, if it’s coming from a coal plant, it’s actually worse, right? But if it’s coming from a hydropower plant, it’s actually better,” explained Helenbrook.   

Electricity for SLU’s vehicle chargers is sourced from Constellation NewEnergy, which has greenhouse gas emissions of 49 percent natural gasses and 2 percent coal. “It does not do much for the environment, as the electricity is still based 51 percent on fossil fuels,” said Assistant Director of Sustainability & Energy Management Michael Iversen. There are fewer emissions than from gas, but it does not mean that the charging stations on campus are 100 percent zero emission.   

Although the donation of electric car chargers does not explicitly make a sustainable impact on the environment, it is another step toward a more environmentally conscious campus. “If SLU had to pay for the costs, that would make for a different discussion,” said Iversen. SLU did not have to pay the grand total of $40,145.00, thanks to the donation and the qualification for the National Grid EV Charging Station Make-Ready Program rebate. “Since this was donor funded and has little repair and maintenance, and provides charging for campus users, it is an excellent asset for SLU,” stated Iversen. There are also benefits to the installation that are not related to the environment. “It does lend value to EV users, and therefore employee satisfaction,” said Iversen. One of these employees is Student Account and Chief Clerk Amanda White, who said that the charging stations have been a very helpful asset on campus with her Chevrolet Bolt UV.   

As for the students on campus, some didn’t even know there were chargers accessible. “I was not aware that we have six charging stations on campus, but we’re also a very progressive campus that has a lot of resources,” said Boone Schaffer ’27. Schaffer worked at a dealership in upstate New York, where he sometimes detailed electric vehicles and brought up the point that people need to know this resource is available to them. “One of the reasons you don’t see a lot of electric vehicles compared to bigger metropolitan areas is because there’s a big accessibility issue in terms of the way that owners are able to charge these vehicles,” commented Schaffer.   

Even though the immediate environmental impact these electric chargers have on campus is little, it encourages the idea of a more sustainable campus. “It’s a chicken and the egg concept,” said Meer while talking about the lack of electric vehicle chargers in the North Country. “So, which comes first, the car or the charging station?” asked Meer.