Here's What's Happening in Oregon
Ecotality Installs First Blink DC Fast Charging Station at Portland Fred Meyer
October 24, 2011 The Blink DC Fast Charger provides the fastest EV charging rates currently available. It can charge a Nissan LEAF to 80% capacity in under 30 minutes.
Oregon and Washington Coordinating Electrification
Through Portland State University, Oregon and Washington are coordinating metro area electrification on a bi-state basis for the metro Portland and Seattle deployment project funded by USDOE involving Nissan and Ecotality.
Both states expect to have fast-charging infrastructure in place along the I-5 by the end of October 2011. Spaced at intervals of 30 to 80 miles, the stations will enable EV travel the entire length of I-5 in the Northwest.
Oregon DOT Receives $2 Million in TIGER II Funding
In October, 2010, the ODOT received $2 million in highly competitive TIGER II funding from the USDOT to install charging stations in rural areas along I-5 in Southern Oregon and on connectors to the Oregon coast and Cascade mountains from Willamette Valley urban centers.
New Transportation Electrification Executive Council Created
On September 22, 2010, Governor Ted Kulongoski announced the creation of the Oregon Transportation Electrification Executive Council through Executive Order 10-09 to create a central point of coordination of electric vehicle (EV) strategy, development and deployment for the state of Oregon.
The Governor made the announcement at the same time that ECOtality unveiled its electric vehicle infrastructure plan for Portland, Salem, Eugene and Corvallis where the company plans to install more than 1,100 publicly available charging stations over the next several months.
The Executive Council will consist of no more than 12 members appointed by the Governor and include representation from both the public and private sector with expertise in business development, energy policy, transportation, and sustainability.
ConnectOregon III Program
The 2009 Oregon Legislature approved $95 million in lottery-backed bonds for the ConnectOregon III program and $5 million for rural airports as part of HB 2001, the Jobs and Transportation Act. Building on the success of the first two authorizations in 2005 and 2007, ConnectOregon III will continue to improve the connections between the highway system and other modes of transportation.
ConnectOregon funds are being distributed to air, marine, rail, transit and other multimodal projects statewide. No less than 10 percent of ConnectOregon III funds must be distributed to each of the five regions of the state, provided that there are qualified projects in the region.paragraph starts here
