Pacific Power launches effort to increase charging stations in Oregon

For National Drive Electric Week, which runs Sept. 8-16, Pacific Power is launching plans to expand its network of charging stations in the region in serves, Oregon.

Starting in October, Pacific Power will open applications for business and organizations to receive grants to develop their own electric vehicle charging stations. The grants will be awarded quarter through the end of 2019. Applications for the first quarterly cycle will be available starting Oct. 15, 2018, and due Nov. 15, 2018.

Overall, roughly $1.45 million in grant funding will be available to non-residential customers through the end of 2019.

Also, through a partnership with Pacific Power, Nissan Leaf is offering a $3,000 incentive to any Pacific Power customer who chooses to buy a new Nissan Leaf. The offer runs through the end of September.

“We’re on an innovative path to offer customers across the state more choice in transportation,” Cory Scott, director of customer solutions for Pacific Power, said. “We will be developing as many as seven company-owned charging stations across Oregon, many in smaller communities, that will serve areas that private developers may overlook.”

One of the new charging stations will be in the new Klamath Commons Park. It is being built in partnership with the City of Klamath Falls and Sky Lakes Medical Center.

“It is the kind of community collaboration we hope to see with all our charging station sites that will help our customers,” Scott said.

Charging stations are places where an electric car owner can recharge their vehicles in 30 minutes. The number of electric cars in Oregon is increasing rapidly. The state has the goal of having 50,000 electric cars on the road by 2020.

“Electric cars can be a great choice for many customers. They can be more affordable to own and operate, and better for the environment too,” Scott said. “We all want a cleaner energy future, and these actions during National Drive Electric Week are designed to help customers explore whether an electric vehicle is right for them.”