New installations coming to three public parking areas
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
The city of Ashland will install 22 public electric vehicle chargers in the coming year thanks to funding from the Oregon Department of Transportation — and Ashland residents are also eligible to apply for grants to help fund other installations.
Federal funding managed by ODOT is being funneled into communities throughout Oregon to better support a growing number of electric vehicles. Ashland will receive $92,000 in the form of a rebate for the project, which will cover up to 75% of construction and installation costs, said Chad Woodward, climate and energy analyst for the city of Ashland.
Construction could begin as soon as late winter or early spring of 2024 on EV chargers in three sites in Ashland: Winburn Way near Lithia Park, the Hargadine parking garage and the 2nd Street parking lot. The city previously installed public chargers in Pioneer Street parking lot at Lithia Way, at The Grove and in the Hargadine garage.
The new chargers will help support a phenomenon already happening in Ashland.
“The city of Ashland has a high adoption rate for EV’s (electric vehicles), we have more EVs per capita than Multnomah or Washington counties,” Woodward said.
Supporting more electrical vehicles on the road could make a difference in Ashland’s long-term climate goals, he said, citing the city’s 2015 study, which showed 17% of Ashland’s greenhouse gas emissions were from residential travel. Ashland’s new chargers will be free to use, according to the city’s November newsletter.
Under federal guidelines, Ashland is considered a “rural priority” area, making both the city and interested residents more likely to receive funds.
“We’re just on the cusp of it, Talent and Phoenix didn’t make it. …It’s a little goofy, but it allows us to qualify for the things we otherwise don’t qualify for,” he said.
Medford is slightly too large to fit the criteria, and Phoenix and Talent are disqualified by their proximity to Medford. Rural priority areas will receive 70% of the funding in the program.
While the city is receiving significant funding, Woodward said residents of Ashland could qualify for even more. Sites with publicly accessible parking can apply for up to $4,250, multi-family housing can apply for between $750 and $5,500, according to the ODOT project page.
The funding is also eligible for “layering,” such as accepting additional funds from the city of Ashland’s rebate programs.
“It’s a great opportunity. If you want to do this, I’d say — look now,” he said.
Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The first round of funding from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program is closed, but there will be three more rounds of funding.
To learn about future funding opportunities, Woodward said, sign up for ODOT’s mailing list.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at [email protected].
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