HARRISBURG, Pa. — DCNR has plans to install a public electric car charging station at Oil Creek State Park.

(Photo courtesy PA Department of Environmental Protection Digest)

DCNR (Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn this week joined Bureau of State Parks officials in dedicating an electric car charging station at Prince Gallitzin State Park.

The event at the Cambria County park signaled the department’s future commitment to similar installations at more than 40 state parks and forests throughout the state to help reduce greenhouse gases, lessens smog, and improve air quality statewide.

“Our state parks and forests will emerge as key to helping increase the network of publicly available charging stations in Pennsylvania,” Dunn said. “We know thousands of state residents own electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. We also know many parks and forest destinations are in remote locations, and the ability to travel to and from them in electric vehicles has been limited by charging availability.

“With DCNR’s plans to install 40 new charging stations across our system, visitors will be able to re-energize both themselves, and their batteries during their visits.”

The charging station at Prince Gallitzin is the second to be installed in the state parks system. Another was installed at Kinzua Bridge, McKean County, a focal point of the Pennsylvania Wilds. Installation of other charging stations, capable of fully charging vehicles in 2.5 to 7 hours, is expected by 2020.

Electric car charging stations will be installed at the following locations:

• Beaver County: Raccoon Creek State Park
• Bedford County: Shawnee State Park
• Berks County: French Creek State Park, Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center
• Bucks County: Delaware Canal State Park, Nockamixon State Park
• Butler County: Jennings Environmental Education Center, Moraine State Park
• Carbon County: Hickory Run State Park
• Centre County: Black Moshannon State Park, Bald Eagle State Park
• Chester County: Marsh Creek State Park
• Clarion County: Cook Forest State Park
• Crawford County: Pymatuning State Park
• Cumberland County: Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Colonel Denning State Park; Kings Gap Environmental Education Center
• Delaware County: Ridley Creek State Park
• Elk County: Elk Country Visitor Center
• Erie County: Presque Isle State Park
• Fayette County, Ohiopyle State Park
• Franklin County: Caledonia State Park
• Fulton County: Cowans Gap State Park
• Huntingdon County: Greenwood Furnace State Park
• Lackawanna County: Lackawanna State Park
• Lawrence County: McConnells Mill State Park
• Luzerne County: Ricketts Glen State Park
• Lycoming County: Tiadaghton State Forest District, Pine Creek Trail
• Montgomery County: Washington Crossing State Park
• Perry County: Little Buffalo State Park
• Pike County: Promised Land State Park
• Potter County: Pennsylvania Lumber Museum, Cherry Springs State Park
• Schuylkill County: Weiser State Forest District Resource Management Center
• Sullivan County: Worlds End State Park
• Tioga County: Leonard Harrison State Park; Tioga State Forest District, Pine Creek Trail
• Venango County: Oil Creek State Park
• Westmoreland County: Keystone State Park
• York County: Codorus State Park, Gifford Pinchot State Park

Dunn’s visit to Prince Gallitzin State Park closed a three-stop “Sustainability Tour” by the secretary to announce DCNR’s extensive, long-term investment in energy conservation at state parks. Speaking Wednesday at Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County, she announced energy conservation investments designed to save $7.5 million over 20 years. Appearing Thursday at Moraine State Park, Butler County, the secretary dedicated a solar panel system that will power the park’s sewage treatment system.

DCNR oversees more than 4,500 buildings in its parks system, more than a hundred wastewater treatment facilities, and thousands of vehicles, and spends millions of dollars a year in electricity.

As the state’s leading conservation agency, DCNR strives to follow practices that conserve and sustain natural resources. Through its green and sustainable initiative, DCNR exemplifies best practices through its buildings, vehicle fleet, purchases, land management and business operations.

For more information on Pennsylvania’s 121 state parks and 20 state forest districts, visit the DCNR website.