Aug 12 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Frank Michael Russell San Jose Mercury News, Calif.



Expecting a surge of consumers buying new electric-powered vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, California is recharging the infrastructure needed to power the cars in Silicon Valley and elsewhere in the state.

The California Energy Commission is working with charging-technology providers EV Connect and Auburn-based ClipperCreek to upgrade 3,000 electric-car charging stations throughout the Golden State, according to a statement Thursday from Huntington Beach-based EV Connect.

"This investment will help prepare California for a clean, energy efficient future and advance the state's transportation infrastructure," California Energy Commission member Anthony Eggert said, according to the news release.

The $1.9 million project will include upgrades to 30 existing charging stations in Santa Clara County. The work is expected to start in the fall and be finished by the end of 2011.

Contact Frank Russell at 408-920-5876. Follow him at Twitter.com/mercspike.

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