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BWI-Marshall Installs 8 Electric Car Charging Stations

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ)—With gas prices on the rise, there's more and more interest in electric cars. Now owning one in Maryland just got easier.

Adam May has more.

Governor Martin O'Malley celebrated Earth Day by driving an electric car to an airport parking garage then he plugged it in to one of eight new charging stations just installed at BWI Thurgood Marshall.

"In Maryland, electric vehicles equal jobs," O'Malley said.  "It is part of the innovative, new economy we have the ability to create here in Maryland."

A Maryland company is behind the equipment and the installation.

"The electric gas pumps, if you will, are a critical piece of infrastructure to get us off foreign oil," said Mahi Reddy, SemaConnect.

By June, 65 public electric vehicle charging stations will go online across the state—convenient for the owner of the new Chevy Volt, one of the first registered in Maryland.

"I just love it," said Barry Larkin. "I love the car, not only is it energy-efficient, economical, it's a very nice ride."

State lawmakers also just approved a new tax credit for home charging stations.

"In the next 10-15 years, charging stations will be as gas ubiquitous as gas stations are around the country," O'Malley said.

And Maryland is competing to be a leader.

Maryland got a $500,000 federal grant to pay for the charging stations.

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