Prosser Public Charging Station Operational

On May 11, Prosser gained an electric vehicle (EV) fast charger at 20 Merlot Drive, near the Verizon store and Chevron.

The EV fast-charging station is the last to be energized as part of a nine-station network along Washington state highway corridors designed to enhance interstate and intrastate EV travel. The others are in Cle Elum, Connell, Ellensburg, Kennewick, Moses Lake, Pasco, Richland and Yakima.

Each station can bring most EVs from zero to full charge in close to 30 minutes and are capable of serving plug-in electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Each station also has a medium-speed charger for plug-in hybrids with smaller battery capacities.

Energy Northwest received a $405,000 grant from the Washington State DOT to install EV 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, a collaboration of public utilities, municipalities, EV equipment suppliers, Greenlots, EV4 and private property owners.

Energy Northwest, the Tri-Cities Development Council and local utilities formed EVITA in 2016 to bridge the EV range gap between Eastern and Western Washington. Core members of EVITA include Benton PUD, Benton REA, the city of Ellensburg, Energy Northwest, Franklin PUD, Richland Energy Services and TRIDEC.

A ribbon-cutting will be scheduled later this summer.