OLYMPIA, Wash.-Over $85 million in grants awarded by the Chamber of Commerce will fund 5,000 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the state, including several in Central and Eastern Washington.
Governor Jay Inslee and Commerce Director Mike Fong announced the grants on Thursday, Feb. 1.
“One of the most important ways we can make electric vehicles an option for more people is by providing more charging stations,” said Governor Inslee. “More and more Washingtonians are choosing to go electric, to the point we now have the second highest rate of EV adoption in the nation.”
According to the Department of Commerce, funding will go to nonprofits, electric utilities, tribes and public agencies, and half of the grants will install chargers in communities most at risk of negative health effects caused by fossil fuel pollution.
A map of the funded projects across the state is available through the Department of Commerce.
141 public locations, including recreation centers, libraries and grocery stores will be getting chargers, including:
Catholic Charities of YakimaWomen of Wisdom (WOW) Tri-CitiesThe Department of Social and Health ServicesThe Yakama NationThe Port of SunnysideThe Washington Department of Children, Youth and FamiliesCity of Walla Walla
Funding was allocated to applicants based on a competitive scoring system that prioritized installations in areas with high levels of pollution and few existing chargers.
“We are committed to ensuring that the benefits from decarbonizing Washington’s economy are experienced broadly,” said Commerce Director Mike Fong.
