Providing EV Infrastructure Planning to Support Town of Holly Springs’ Decarbonization Goals

In support of its commitment to sustainability, the Town of Holly Springs, North Carolina, manages several ongoing initiatives. Electric vehicle (EV) charging is one area the Town is emphasizing, having installed charging stations downtown and at two parks. It is now looking to get ahead of the curve with the EV infrastructure needs of two upcoming development projects: the Operations Campus and Eagles Landing Park.

The Operations Campus, with construction set to complete in 2026, will host most of the Town’s fleet vehicles, equipment and supplies. It will include a 28,000-square-foot building with warehouse and office space for public works staff, an administration building, a convenience center for yard waste drop-off, and public access to a greenway.

Eagles Landing Park, anticipated to open in 2027, will be located off Cass Holt Road near Holly Springs High School. With over 55 acres of land, it will offer an indoor recreation center, pickleball and basketball courts, turf fields, a skatepark, an outdoor splash pad and access to a fishing pier, trails and greenways.

EV Infrastructure Planning for Holly Springs

The Town of Holly Springs engaged with Advanced Energy to determine best practices for EV charging deployment at the two sites. The Operations Campus will mostly feature fleet and workplace charging, while Eagles Landing Park will offer charging as an amenity to the public.

The Town was looking for guidance for Day-One operation, when the Operations Campus and Eagles Landing Park open, and future use, through make-ready activities. Make-ready prepares a location at the time of construction or major renovation to efficiently add EV charging later. Planning ahead for charging infrastructure can provide significant cost savings, as it can minimize the need for later electrical service upgrades and ground disturbance.

We worked with the Town’s project managers, sustainability office, fleet manager and design consultants to help forecast charging needs, considering fleet vehicles, workplace employees and visitors, as appropriate. This effort in turn involved the following steps:

• Reviewing site plans and drawings to ensure convenient and cost-effective charging station siting for both Day-One operation and future use
• Calculating the suitable number of charging stations and plugs to be installed for both Day-One operation and future use
• Consulting the Town’s Unified Development Ordinance and Strategic Plan
• Aligning planning recommendations with the Town’s electric utility, Duke Energy
• Considering Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards
• Recommending station characteristics and power specifications to meet the Town’s anticipated usage requirements
• Identifying station vendors and operation/ownership strategies for the Town to consider, including direct ownership and charging as a service

We documented this research in an EV infrastructure plan report and presentation that we delivered to the Town of Holly Springs.

Conclusion

We appreciated the opportunity to work with the Town of Holly Springs and applaud the Town for its forward-looking approach to EV charging. We’re excited to follow along with the development of the Operations Campus and Eagles Landing Park.

Our EV infrastructure planning — which offers a customized, unbiased approach to address EV goals and challenges now and into the future — is just one of several services we offer to support decarbonization efforts. Let us know how we can help you.