Two stations will be installed in Sylva and one in Dillsboro, with Duke paying up to $5,000 for the purchase and installation of each charging port. The amount should cover the cost, according to a press release from Duke. 

Overall, the program this year awarded more than 200 stations to 83 cities, counties and organizations for a total of $1 million, increasing the number of public electric vehicle charging stations in North Carolina by 30 percent. The awards cover 50 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. 

The program stems from a 2015 settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and environmental groups. The EPA lawsuit had claimed that Duke Energy violated the federal Clean Air Act at some of its coal-fired power plants in North Carolina. The electric vehicle charging program was one of many stipulations included in the settlement.