Statewide, transportation is a leading source of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. This growing concern, coupled with fluctuating gas prices, advancements in battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell technology, and state incentives, has led to an increased interest in battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Energy Northwest’s strategy to reduce carbon emissions focuses on the widespread adoption of battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, and the growing need for charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure in the Northwest.
Through education, partnerships, and smart infrastructure, Energy Northwest will help facilitate electric vehicle and clean energy adoption.
Washington state has an enviable mix of carbon-free electricity-generating resources, including all the assets operated by Energy Northwest. The state struggles to reduce its carbon footprint in the transportation sector, which makes up 50% of the state’s emissions.
Energy Northwest’s Electrification Offerings
- Consultation: Grant writing and application services, transportation electrification planning for utilities and communities, managed charging programs
- Development of EV charging rate schedules
- Charger site design, installation, and ownership
- Workplace charging programs
- Fleet charging programs
- Education and outreach
- Organization of Ride and Drive events
- Facilitate opportunities for aggregated purchases (EV supply equipment)
- Project development for aggregated EV charging network projects
- Credit aggregation for Washington’s Clean Fuel Standards (PDF)
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Transportation Alliance (EVITA)
EVITA began in 2016 as a regional collaboration formed to align and aggregate local utility efforts supporting the adoption and installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The founding partnership brought together Energy Northwest, Benton PUD, Franklin PUD, Benton REA, City of Richland Energy Services, City of Ellensburg Energy Services, Grant PUD, and the Mid-Columbia Energy Initiative (MCEI)—an industry collaboration coordinated through the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC). Early on, EVITA partners worked together on a shared project that resulted in Energy Northwest receiving funding from the Washington State Department of Transportation to install nine EV charging stations along underserved corridors in Washington State. That initial work helped establish a strong foundation for expanding charging access across the region.
Since then, EVITA has evolved from a utility partnership into the broader brand Energy Northwest now uses to represent and communicate its EV charging infrastructure efforts. Under the EVITA name, Energy Northwest continues to collaborate with regional leaders, community partners, and the private sector to advance reliable, accessible EV charging throughout the Pacific Northwest.
EVITA charging stations:
More information on electric vehicles:
- Plugshare (Search for a charging location)
- Electric Vehicles – Washington State Department of Commerce
- Washington State Department of Transportation
- Washington State University Green Transportation Program
- Alternative Fuels & Vehicles Technical Assistance Group
- Alliance for Transportation Electrification
- Drive Electric Washington
- Plug-in America
- West Coast Electric Highway
- U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center
- Washington State Transportation Electrification Strategy
For questions, contact EVITA@energy-northwest.com.