Kilmer Announces $16.6 Million for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure on the Olympic Peninsula
PORT ANGELES, WA – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced nearly $16.7 million in new federal funding for two projects on the Olympic Peninsula through the U.S. Department of Transportation Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program. These grants are made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the largest long-term investment in America’s infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century.
- $2,103,611 for the City of Port Angeles to install 50 electric vehicle (EV) chargers, enhancing EV infrastructure to boost tourism, fight climate change, and create jobs
- $14,588,384 for Energy Northwest to install 40 fast and 12 Level 2 EV chargers across Western Washington, enhancing EV access for rural communities, including indigenous communities, Forks, Sequim, Quilcene, Shelton, and Port Ludlow
“This is a big deal,” said Rep. Kilmer. “Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are making historic investments that will directly impact folks’ lives for years. Let’s talk about what this means. It means our state’s most rural areas – including places like Port Angeles near the Olympic National Park – will have new charging infrastructure to support economic activity, enabling more tourism and more business. It means that, throughout our region, the federal government is providing Washingtonians with the tools to create jobs and grow the economy. That’s good news.”
The City of Port Angeles will install 50 fast and type II electric vehicle (EV) chargers along State Road 101, which provides access to Olympic National Park and ferry services. According to the National Park Service, Olympic National Park saw more than 2.7 million visitors in 2021. Presently, there are only five public EV chargers operated by the City of Port Angeles, including within Olympic National Park, to serve both permanent residents and visiting tourists. This new investment will help reduce the environmental impacts of combustion engine vehicles, as well as meet increasing charging demand, encourage non-carbon emitting transportation and fleet electrification, and create new electric utility and electrical contracting jobs in an economically disadvantage community.
“This investment ensures our city is ready for the future, supporting the sustainability and climate resiliency goals of our community, while also addressing the evolving needs of our residents and visitors,” said Port Angeles Mayor Kate Dexter. “As the demand for EV chargers grows, we are accommodating the needs of our residents and ensuring that visitors with electric vehicles can seamlessly explore all our community has to offer. We are thrilled to receive this award and thank Representative Derek Kilmer for his incredible support.”
Energy Northwest, a joint operating agency formed by the Washington state legislature in 1957, will install 40 fast chargers and 12 Level 2 chargers across western Washington State and northern Oregon. The project will provide EV access to largely rural and disadvantaged communities, including on indigenous lands. This new investment will create widespread access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the Olympic Peninsula in places like Forks, Sequim, Quilcene, Shelton, and Port Ludlow, allowing both permanent residents and visitors alike to explore the region and support local economies.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorizes $2.5 billion over five years for the CFI Program through two distinct grant funding categories and requires that 50% of the funding over five years is made available for each. This round of funding provides a total of $700 million from Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 to strategically deploy EV charging infrastructure and other alternative fueling infrastructure projects in urban and rural communities in publicly accessible locations, including downtown areas and local neighborhoods, particularly in underserved and disadvantaged communities.
The CFI Program builds on the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. EV chargers constructed with CFI funds must adhere to those same standards, a requirement that supports a consistent charging experience for users and ensures that our national charging network is convenient, reliable, and made in America. Applications for the next round of the CFI Discretionary Grant Program are expected to open in January 2024.
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