Eureka to receive $1.9 million to increase local EV charging stations

January 19, 2024

The federal government announced a $1.9 million federal grant to build electric vehicle charging stations in Eureka. This will mean 21 more public charging stations in 14 locations spread across Eureka, construction of which likely will begin during 2025. Some fast chargers will be added.

City Manager Miles Slattery said this will significantly increase the amount of EV chargers and spread them throughout Eureka, making the chargers more convenient to use.

“The more convenient we can make it, the more likely people will be to purchase them (electric vehicles),” he said.

The chargers will be along streets, parks and trailheads. These will be a mixture of level two and three chargers, the latter a supercharger that shrinks charge time. A United States Department of Transportation news release noted this grant is one award of 47 totaling about $623 million that aims to build an EV charging network across the country.

Slattery said this goes a long way towards Eureka’s tasks for Humboldt County’s climate action plan in reducing greenhouse gasses.

“One of our big tasks, in the climate action plan, is to electrify as many vehicles as we can,” he said.

Colin Fiske, executive director of the advocacy group Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities, said that in general there aren’t enough electric vehicle chargers across America. He said that public chargers are good for long commutes and noted they can offer economic stimulation to areas bringing tourists.

He said the vast majority of charges for EVs are done at home by people who own electric vehicles, or at work, and said it’s important to make sure low income people have access to chargers at those places.

But he noted that EVs won’t be a silver bullet for climate change.

“All the research shows were not going to meet target just by electrifying vehicles, we also need to drive less,” he said.

The DOT release says EVs are “critical to our rapid and equitable transition to clean transportation systems, producing zero tailpipe emissions, reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions — major contributors to climate change and key contributors to respiratory ailments.”

U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) celebrated the grant award on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“We just received major funding to make electric vehicles more accessible in our district, top to bottom! Last Congress I helped shape @POTUS’ landmark Infrastructure Law — and I made building out EV infrastructure a priority to equitably supercharge our clean energy transition,” a Huffman tweet said.

Slattery thanked public works staff for finding the grant opportunity, noting the grant came from a program targeting disadvantaged areas; the release said 70% of the grant awardees are in disadvantaged areas. City staff now will take on design and other preliminary work.


By:  Sage Alexander
Source: The Times-Standard