On Tuesday, June 18^th, The Inn at Houghton Creek held a joint ribbon-cutting ceremony with Houghton University for six new electric vehicle charging stations—four at The Inn, and two at the college.

The Inn at Houghton Creek offers two “J plug” (SAE J1772) chargers and two Tesla vehicle charging stations. Houghton University offers two J plug chargers between the Paine Center for the Science and the Willard J. Houghton Library. All six are Level 2 (240-volt) chargers.

A Responsible Choice, and a Smart Investment

Ken Bates and Tom Miner, co-owners of The Inn, described two objectives for the chargers. “The vehicle chargers we’ve installed are simultaneously a smart business strategy and an eco-conservative decision,” said Bates.

Miner added, “We’re trying to be responsible citizens, while of course generating business for The Inn. It made sense to install these electric vehicle chargers for our guests, as well as others traveling through our areas.”

Brian Webb, Houghton University’s sustainability coordinator, said that the increased prevalence of electric vehicles, combined with government incentives, made this an ideal time for the college to install the vehicle chargers. “We knew we would have to adapt for this new market eventually, as people become more attentive to their impact on the environment—and we felt it would be a smart investment to jump on while we could participate in these incentives.”

Bates and Miner agreed, saying they were proud to be taking the lead with the college in providing this service to the Allegany County area.

A Resource for Electric Vehicle Owners

The new vehicle chargers are registered through Plug In America, so charging stations can be visible to electric vehicle owners planning trips through the area. Buffalo Solar Solutions provided installation services to The Inn and participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Guests of The Inn at Houghton Creek receive complimentary EV charging during their stay. Faculty, staff, and students at Houghton University may use the campus chargers at no cost. Others are also welcome to charge their vehicles at The Inn or the college, at the rate of $1 for each of the first two hours and $3 for each subsequent hour.

The Inn at Houghton Creek has served visitors to the Houghton community since 1994. It is currently managed by husband and wife duo Peter and Joanna Bates.

Houghton University is a Christian liberal arts institution, home to more than 1,000 students. Its mission is to provide an academically challenging, Christ-centered education to students from diverse traditions and economic backgrounds, equipping them to lead and labor as scholar-servants in a changing world.