Summary
- Federal government allocating tens of millions of dollars for electric car charging and hydrogen fueling stations in Oregon and neighboring states
- Majority of the funding, $102 million, to create a zero-emission truck-fueling network along key freight corridors
- In Oregon, stations will be built along the Interstate 5 corridor and in other cities in the northern Willamette Valley
- Funding also includes $15 million for installing 500 EV chargers at about 125 sites across various locations
- Oregon continues to push for electric vehicle adoption to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in transportation
Article
The federal government is investing millions of dollars in Oregon and neighboring states to improve electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling stations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in transportation. The majority of the money, $102 million, will create a zero-emission truck-fueling network spanning California, Oregon, and Washington for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses. These stations will be placed along 2,500 miles of key freight corridors to support the transition to cleaner transportation options.
Currently, Oregon only has one publicly-accessible electric vehicle charging station for trucks, Electric Island on Swan Island. Hydrogen fuel stations will also be built to support hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, which use an electric motor powered by hydrogen and oxygen instead of batteries. Oregon is still waiting to receive specific information on how much money they will receive and how many stations of what type they can build along the Interstate 5 corridor, according to a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation.
In addition to the investment in truck-fueling stations, Portland and 16 other cities in the northern Willamette Valley will receive $15 million to install publicly accessible electric vehicle chargers for cars and other light-duty vehicles. This funding will be used to install up to 500 EV chargers at about 125 sites across the region, including multifamily buildings and public locations like libraries, parks, and community centers to support those without home charging access. The city of Albany will also receive nearly $1.9 million to plan, design, and install EV chargers at four locations.
The funding for these projects comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by the Biden administration to support transportation projects like roads, bridges, public transit, and other infrastructure improvements. Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon, representing over a third of total emissions with medium and heavy-duty trucks accounting for more than 40% of on-road emissions. The state has been working to encourage electric vehicle sales, but a popular EV rebate is on hold until next spring. Despite this, Oregon is one of the top states in the nation for EV sales, with nearly 89,500 EVs registered as of September.
Oregon has implemented requirements for car manufacturers to make available increasing percentages of zero-emission vehicles for lease or sale in the state, though the impact on emissions reduction will depend on consumer willingness to purchase new, expensive electric vehicles. This investment in electric vehicle infrastructure is part of efforts to transition towards cleaner transportation options and reduce the environmental impact of transportation in Oregon and neighboring states.
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