Jayapal, Murray, DelBene, Larsen, MGP, Kilmer, Smith, Strickland Secure Over $41 Million For New Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Across Western Washington State

Washington, D.C. –Today, U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Adam Smith (WA-09), and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded four grants totaling $41.19 million to help communities across western Washington state install more charging stations for electric vehicles. The funds will also help create a shared charging hub to service electric trucks hauling cargo to the ports of Seattle and Tacoma.

“Electric vehicles are a big part of our fight to reduce emissions and save our environment, but in too many areas of our state, we need to do more work to build out our clean energy infrastructure,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07). “That is why I’m so excited to see more than $40 million in federal funding headed to Washington for electric vehicle charging stations across our state. This investment will help reduce range anxiety and encourage Washington residents to upgrade to cleaner, more environmentally friendly electric vehicles. While this announcement is a great step, we must keep working to invest in all aspects of our clean transportation infrastructure to ensure our communities have clean air to breathe and a safe environment to live in.”

“It was a real team effort by Washington’s entire delegation to prioritize funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Senator Murray. “As we work to electrify more sectors to reduce carbon emissions while building a stronger clean energy economy—this investment helps push that agenda forward. We know that the future of the auto industry is electric, and this is about making sure Washington State is at the forefront of that future. I’m going to continue building on these critical clean energy investments to cut carbon emissions, create good-paying jobs, build climate-resilient infrastructure in our communities, and bring down costs for Washington state families.”

“This $40 million federal investment in new electric vehicle charging infrastructure is a major leap forward for Washington state,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA-01). “This funding will expand charging networks across our state, make driving an electric vehicle more reliable, help us meet our climate goals, and ensure that every part of our state is included in our transition to a greener future.” 

“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the vision of local leaders, Mount Vernon is building a cleaner and greener future,” said Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), the lead Democrat on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. “Mayor Boudreau and her team championed the innovative Library Commons project, and I look forward to working with Mayor Donovan and his team to deliver more jobs, drive long-term economic growth and pull more pollution out of transportation in Mount Vernon and in communities along the I-5 corridor.”

“As electric vehicles become increasingly widespread, rural communities need to remain front of mind so they aren’t left behind,” said Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03). “Today’s investments in fast charging infrastructure in Ilwaco, Longview, and Raymond are a step in the right direction to give more choices to folks living in rural areas.”

“This is a big deal,” said Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06). “Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are making historic investments that will directly impact folks’ lives for years.  Let’s talk about what this means.  It means our state’s most rural areas — including places like Port Angeles near the Olympic National Park — will have new charging infrastructure to support economic activity, enabling more tourism and more business.  It means our port will have state-of-the-art charging stations to keep us as a leader in global trade and to ensure that we have cleaner air from reduced emissions.  It means that, throughout our state, the federal government is providing Washingtonians with the tools to create jobs and grow the economy.  That’s good news.”

“Electrifying our transportation sector is crucial to reducing harmful carbon emissions and combatting the climate crisis. I am thrilled that robust funding is being invested in projects across Washington—including in the Ninth District—that will increase our EV charging infrastructure and make our communities cleaner and greener places to live,” said Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09). “Democrats in Congress have been proud to work with the Biden Administration to deliver funding that will help us meet our climate goals and invest in communities that have been historically overburdened and underserved.”

“Electric vehicle infrastructure is becoming more critical, especially as the South Sound population and economy continues to grow,” said Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10). “This funding will expand the availability of chargers across rural communities and modernize our transportation network at our two largest ports.”

The grants announced today come from the DOT’s FY22-23 Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program. They include:

$14,588,384 for Energy Northwest: Energy Northwest, a joint operating agency in Washington state, will install 40 fast chargers and 12 Level 2 chargers across western Washington State and northern Oregon. The project will provide EV access to largely rural and disadvantaged communities, including on indigenous lands. Impacted communities are Forks, Sequim, Quilcene, Shelton, Raymond, Ilwaco, Kamilche, Longview, Kalaloch, and Port Ludlow.

$12,500,000 for the City of Mount Vernon’s Library Commons Project: The City of Mount Vernon will install 78 EV charging ports in a public parking garage located in a historic downtown area by the Skagit River and Interstate 5, an Alternative Fuel Corridor, as part of the Mount Vernon Library Commons Project, a multi-use infrastructure project located in historic downtown Mount Vernon.  The project will be constructed to allow the installation of another 200 charging ports in the future. The project will also help support a regional transit stop linking Skagit, Whatcom, and Snohomish counties.

“The City is honored to receive this funding. Our Mount Vernon Library Commons project fulfills local, state, and federal transportation goals by building the largest publicly accessible EV charging facility in the United States,” said former Mount Vernon Mayor Jill Boudreau and current project manager for the Mount Vernon Library Commons project. “We are thankful for Senator Murray, and Mount Vernon’s entire delegation, for their unwavering support and advocacy.”

“This grant award—and this entire project—are wonderful examples of the cooperation that should exist among all levels of government when it comes to addressing the infrastructure needs of Americans, today and well into the future,” said Mount Vernon Mayor Peter Donovan.” Mount Vernon owes a debt of gratitude to all of the City’s state and federal delegation. Senator Murray was instrumental in advocating for this visionary project in Mount Vernon. Thank you!”

$2,103,611 for the City of Port Angeles: The City of Port Angeles will install 50 fast EV chargers along State Route 101, which provides access to Olympic National Park and ferry service. Port Angeles is a small, rural community where improved EV infrastructure will help reduce the environmental impacts of combustion engine vehicles.

“This investment ensures our City is ready for the future, supporting the sustainability and climate resiliency goals of our community, while also addressing the evolving needs of our residents and visitors,” said Port Angeles Mayor Kate Dexter. “As the demand for EV chargers grows, we are accommodating the needs of our residents and ensuring that visitors with electric vehicles can seamlessly explore all our community has to offer. We are honored to receive this award and thank Senator Patty Murray for her continued support.”

$12,000,000 for the Northwest Seaport Alliance: The Northwest Seaport Alliance, the marine cargo operating partnership comprised of the Port of Seattle and the Port of Tacoma, will develop shared electric truck charging hubs. These hubs will serve a network of about 4,500 heavy-duty trucks that provide cargo hauling services to the ports of Seattle and Tacoma. The project also will help reduce emissions from an estimated 300 diesel trucks, including greenhouse gas emissions that disproportionately impact disadvantaged, overburdened communities near the seaports and along major regional freight corridors.

“Thank you to Senator Murray and the Congressional Delegation for supporting our application to the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program,” said Kristin Ang, Port of Tacoma Commission President and The Northwest Seaport Alliance Co-Chair. “The Northwest Seaport Alliance is grateful to our federal congressional delegation for prioritizing charging infrastructure that supports the transition to zero-emission trucking for our regional supply chain.”

Issues: Environment