By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–Paris Mayor Kathy Ray had the honor of the first charge with the electric vehicle chargers that have been installed at Eiffel Tower Park. A large crowd was on hand for the “First Charge” event which included speakers, a performance by the Henry County High School Madrigals, light lunch and a close-up view of the first fully-electric Rivian pickup trucks.
Rivian, Clearloop, and the Paris Board of Public Utilities partnered together to install the two electric vehicle chargers for public use at the park which speakers said will draw even more tourists to the local community.
Presentations were made by Mayor Ray, Board of Public Utilities CEO Terry Wimberley, Paris-Henry County Chamber President Justin Oliver, as well as Rivian and Clearloop officials.
Clearloop CEO Bob Comey thanked the city of Paris and Henry County for its partnership in the project, noting, “It takes large partnerships to be successful…We’re grateful to be here. We view this as moving into the neighborhood because we want to be part of the community,” he said.
Ray thanked Clearloop and Rivian “for investing in our town” and thanked Wimbeley and BPU for establishing a relationship with them with the Paris Solar Farm at Puryear. “We’re known as a progressive community and we are always looking for ways to actively invest in our community.”
Ray noted that Paris “is one of the first cities to unveil electric charging stations. When you work together, you truly can make a difference.”
The local Chamber “is always investing in the youth of our community and in ways to keep them here”, Oliver said, noting, “This will be a draw to ou community. We’re only behind Nashville on this. This will be a real benefit to people coming here from out of town.”
Wimberley spoke of the positive partnership with Rivian and Clearloop and said Rivian was especially excited about the Eiffel Tower Park site. Other EV charging stations will be installed in downtown Paris, Paris Landing State Park and The Lodge at Paris Landing.
“If you’re an EV driver and you don’t need to install a charger at home, you’re happy when you see public infrastructure like this,” Wimberley said. “And if you’re a future EV owner, which most of us will be, you’re also happy to see this.”
Clearloop CEO Laura Zapata said she was proud to invest in the local community “and incredibly proud of the sunny days ahead.”
Andrew Peterman of Rivian noted that his company “is the first to produce all-electric pickup trucks in the U.S.” The EV chargers will be installed in all of the state parks, he said.
Two Rivian electric pickup trucks from Rivian were there for everyone to look through and some lucky people even got to ride in them. The vehicles were especially popular with the students from TCAT who were on hand. Tents were set up and a light lunch and hot drinks were served.
Photo: Paris Mayor Kathy Ray with the first charge. (Shannon McFarlin photo).