Jennifer Harper, Energy Services & Development, 509-377-4166
Mike Paoli, Public Affairs, 509-377-4164
RICHLAND, Wash. – Local Yakima leaders will cut a ribbon Thursday at noon to mark the official opening of the area’s first publicly available high speed charging station at the Firing Center Chevron/Bullseye Burgers, Subs and More, located at 51 Firing Center Road, Yakima. A soft launch occurred earlier this week with open access to the public.
The electric vehicle fast-charging station is part of a more than $1 million, nine-station network along Washington state highway corridors designed to enhance interstate and intrastate electric vehicle travel.
News media are invited to attend the event and project participants are available to support your news gathering efforts; an electric vehicle will be charging during this time.
Additional Information
Energy Northwest received a $405,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation that’s being used to install stations on US-395, I-82, I-182 and along the I-90 corridor. Remaining installation costs are funded through the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Transportation Alliance. EVITA is unique collaboration between public and private entities comprised of Greenlots and EV4, electric vehicle equipment suppliers; public utilities; municipalities; and private property owners.
Project partners strategically chose the Firing Center Chevron for its easy access; distance to a new charging station in Ellensburg and a planned station in Prosser; high traffic volume; and available amenities. The alliance recently installed stations in both Ellensburg and Kennewick, and plan future stations for Pasco, Connell, Richland, Prosser, Cle Elum and George.
Each station can bring an electric vehicle from zero to full charge in less than 30 minutes, and is capable of serving all plug-in electric and plug-in hybrid cars. Each station also has a medium-speed charger for use by plug-in hybrid vehicles with smaller battery capacities.
The charging station is owned and operated by Greenlots.
Car Charging
"This public-private partnership underscores a unique model to address the growing need for electric vehicle charging infrastructure," said Greenlots CEO, Brett Hauser. "We're proud to join with Energy Northwest, the Department of Transportation and local partners to help achieve state electrification goals. This helps create a clean transportation future for communities across Washington.”
About EVITA
Energy Northwest, the Tri-Cities Development Council and local utilities formed the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Transportation Alliance in 2016 to bridge the electric vehicle range gap between eastern and western Washington, and help reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector. Core alliance partners are Benton PUD, Franklin PUD, Benton Rural Electric Association, the cities Richland and Ellensburg and Greenlots.
About Energy Northwest
Energy Northwest owns and operates a diverse mix of electricity generating resources, including hydro, solar and wind projects, and the third-largest provider of electricity in Washington – the Columbia Generating Station nuclear power facility. These projects provide carbon-free electricity at the cost of generation – enough clean, cost-effective and reliable energy to power more than a million homes each year. As a joint action agency of Washington state, Energy Northwest comprises 27 public power member utilities from across the state serving more than 1.5 million customers. The agency continually explores new generation projects to meet its members’ needs. In 2016, the Association of Washington Business named Energy Northwest Employer of the Year.