Tesla has listed the Owensboro Meijer as a potential location for its next round of Supercharger installations, and the public can now vote on whether or not they want to make it a reality.
Voting is open at tesla.com/supercharger-voting, where Tesla owners can cast up to five votes per round for new Supercharger sites. The Owensboro Meijer on Heartland Xing Boulevard is one of the proposed sites, and state EV advocates are encouraging the community to show their support.
Michael Menor, president of both Tesla Owners of Kentucky and EVOLVE KY, said the voting process helps Tesla gauge demand and prioritize areas for installation.
“Every year — or sometimes more than once — Tesla opens up voting to the public to help identify future Supercharger locations,” Menor said. “They don’t just choose one; they pick several based on voting results and other factors like nearby amenities.”
Menor said Tesla often targets locations that are already part of established retail networks like Meijer. He noted that Owensboro’s Meijer is particularly well-suited for a Supercharger due to its proximity to several chain restaurants, shopping options, and other services drivers may want to access during a 15- to 20-minute charging stop.
“Amenities are really important,” Menor said. “Tesla looks for places where drivers can take a break, grab food, and use the restroom while their car charges.”
The chargers would support Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), which is increasingly being adopted by other manufacturers. While the Supercharger network was originally exclusive to Tesla vehicles, Menor said the company is opening access to other EVs that use the same connection standard.
Menor said Tesla is deploying thousands of chargers each year nationwide, with many of them going up quickly due to prefabricated equipment that can be installed and commissioned in just a few weeks once a site is selected.
Though he lives in Lexington, Menor works with several Owensboro-area members in the Tesla Owners of Kentucky group. He said the nonprofit EVOLVE KY, which he also leads, helps install free public chargers across Kentucky and hosts public test-drive events during National Drive Electric Week and Drive Electric Month.
“Owensboro has made progress with EV infrastructure, including three Level 3 chargers that were funded through the federal NEVI program,” he said. “Getting a Tesla Supercharger site would be a great next step.”
