Pierce County Installs Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Pierce County is driving positive change with the installation of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in two locations - the county government's downtown Tacoma campus and the Public Services Annex. A station at each location is available for public use at a cost of $3 per charge.

The charging stations support Pierce County's sustainability goals of improved water and air quality, while reducing our use of fossil fuels.

The EV Charging Stations are located in the public pay lot adjacent to the new jail and at the Annex near the LESA Communication tower. The public stations operate by self-serve kiosks, and accept major credit and debit cards. The units are conveniently sited at Pierce County government's most frequently visited facilities.

"These charging stations provide a direct benefit to the public's health, our community's economic vitality and our overall environmental welfare. They are part of an integrated plan to move us closer to our sustainability goals," said Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy.

In addition to the two charging stations for the public, three other stations have been installed at the County-City Building to support the newest acquisitions to the county's vehicle fleet: three Nissan Leafs. These electric vehicles are available to county employees to use for work. A good taxpayer investment, the cars require less maintenance and have a higher resale value than traditional vehicles.

All five charging stations were funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The two public stations were funded through the agency's Petroleum Reduction Program, while the three fleet stations were funded through the agency's EV Project.

Washington state's Interstate 5 corridor was chosen as an ideal location to deploy electric vehicle infrastructure, making it one of the first electric highways in the nation. The EV Project is designed to reduce our nation's reliance on foreign fuels, reduce pollution, and cut greenhouse gas emissions by supporting innovative and sustainable transportation alternatives.