RICHLAND, Wash. – Energy Northwest recently completed a new electric vehicle (EV) charging station, located at the Columbia Rural Electric Association at 2929 Melrose Street in Walla Walla. The new station includes a 100kW direct current fast charger (Level 3 DCFC) and two 7.2kW Level 2 chargers.
This is the first Level 3 charger for Walla Walla. Level 3 fast chargers can charge a battery electric vehicle (BEV) from empty to 80% in 20-60 minutes. There are about 25 other Level 2 chargers in the city and surrounding area.
Energy Northwest, a Washington state joint operating agency, will operate the new station, which is accessible to the public at all times with dedicated EV parking spaces and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility. Columbia REA has provided shade on the site for the EV charging customers via its solar carport, which can provide 16KW of electricity to the grid.
The Walla Walla station was supported by a $20,000 grant from Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF). The grant was awarded to Energy Northwest in April 2022 as part of BEF's commitment to eliminate the barriers to widespread renewable energy adoption.
This is Energy Northwest's 12th charging location in the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Transportation Alliance (EVITA) network. The new station links Walla Walla with other EVITA stations located in Dayton (32 miles away) and Pasco (49 miles).
Energy Northwest has one of the largest carbon-free energy portfolios in the region and has been involved with EV infrastructure development since 2016. The agency has 12 additional EV stations in or nearing the construction phase.
In 2021, Energy Northwest received a $1.15 million grant from Washington State Department of Commerce's Clean Energy Fund and intends to network several charging station locations along U.S. Highway 12 to better serve EV drivers and the communities located along these routes. The highway has been identified by Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) as an underserved corridor requiring additional charging infrastructure.
Washington's energy strategy recommends rapid electrification of all transportation markets to meet state emission reduction goals for the transportation sector, aligning with Energy Northwest's vision to lead the clean energy transformation for the regional public power community. According to the Washington State Department of Licensing, there are more than 112,000 EVs registered in the state, including more than 22,000 new registrations for EVs in 2022.
About Energy Northwest
Energy Northwest develops, owns and operates a diverse mix of electricity generating resources, including hydro, solar, battery storage and wind projects – and the Northwest's only 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 an independent joint operating agency of Washington state, Energy Northwest comprises 28 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.
Contact: media@energy-northwest.com
