Bethel and Western Connecticut State University are among 42 locations that have been approved for state grants to create publicly available electric vehicle charging stations. 

In announcing the grants, Governor Malloy cited a federal Department of Energy study that showed it costs less than half the cost of using gasoline to operate an electric vehicle and more charging stations will help residents. 

West Conn Director of Facilities Luigi Marcone says two charging stations on each campus will be installed in the coming months that will fully charge a vehicle in two hours.

The units will be installed in the White Street Garage on the Midtown campus and the Centennial Hall Garage on the Westside campus.  He says both of the areas are sheltered, have adequate lighting and closed circuit tv camera coverage.  According to the grant, the units must be installed before April.

Signs designed by the state Department of Transportation will alert motorists to the presence of the charging stations.  The stations will be for both the university and the public.  The charging will be free.

The grants range from $1,000 to $5,000.  The funding totala about $136,000. 

The funding comes from an April 2012 settlement allowing for Northeast Utilities to merge with Boston-based NStar.