Local cities to share in $15 million in federal funds to add EV charging stations

A consortium of 17 cities in the Willamette Valley — including Beaverton, Hillsboro, King City, Tigard, Tualatin and Sherwood — have been named to receive a total of $15 million in funding through the federal government’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program.

That money, distributed through the U.S. Department of Transportation, will result in the installation of a 1,000 Level 2 networked charging ports, which are electric vehicle charging stations possessing advanced capabilities, and a minimum of 125 EV stations for those cities, according to a news release from the city of Tigard. The grants come out of the U.S. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that’s aimed at placing electric vehicle charging stations and alternative fueling near the places where people live and work.

“The new charging stations will primarily serve low- and moderate-income residents and those living in multifamily housing where at-home charging access is limited. Additionally, chargers will be installed at publicly accessible facilities, such as libraries and parks,” read a statement from Tigard officials.

For Tigard, moving toward an increase in electric vehicles will help take impactful climate action by reducing greenhouse gas and adapting to a changing climate. The city’s recent Climate Action Report states that of five suggested low-carbon actions, the use of personal electric vehicles was found to be the most helpful in reducing greenhouse gases. That same report stated that if all residents began using electric vehicles by 2025, they could eliminate 349,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

“We are proud to be part of this consortium of 17 cities in the Willamette Valley that has secured $15 million in funding through the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program,” Tigard Mayor Heidi Lueb said in a statement. “This collaborative effort demonstrates our shared commitment to creating a cleaner, more sustainable future for our communities. With this funding, we can expand our electric vehicle charging infrastructure, making EVs more accessible for everyone and driving forward our climate and equity goals."

Though the city is still working out details regarding number of chargers it will receive, Tigard City Councilor Jake Schlack said the installation of the new stations will poise Tigard “to become a leader in electric vehicle infrastructure and chart the way toward a greener future.”

Portland General Electric is expected to use $200,000 in funding from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Fuels Program to provide a matching grant supporting education and outreach activities, according to the city of Tualatin.

For Tualatin, both Mayor Frank Bubenik and Councilor Bridget Brooks learned about the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program while attending this year’s Congressional City Conference and thought it would be a good fit for the city.

“This project will make tremendous headway towards achieving our climate action goals in an equitable way. I am grateful to the City of Tualatin staff, Forth (a Portland-area organization that champions equitable access to charging electric cars), PGE and the 16 other participating cities for their work collaborating on the grant. This was truly a regional effort,” Bubenik said in a statement.