City researching EV charging stations

Idaho is due to receive $28 million to develop a network of EV (electronic vehicle) charging stations.

 And if the city’s vision comes to fruition, Weiser would be the next location on a short list of charging stations in the west Treasure Valley.

 “We are in the discovery phase right now,” Mayor Randy Hibberd told the Weiser Signal American. “It’s something we would have to apply for. We talked to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and they told us that Weiser would be a perfect place for it.”

 Last February, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, and U.S. Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, announced the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, which aims, through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to provide federal funding over five years for deployment of the network.

 Funds are dispersed through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration.

 The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has partnered with the state’s Department of Environmental Quality and Office of Energy and Mineral resources to gather statewide public input to determine locations throughout Idaho.

 Qualifying factors for site locations include existing infrastructure, capabilities, and accessibility.

 Transportation managers are tasked with collecting feedback in Idaho and submitting a baseline plan to the Federal Highway Administration by Aug. 1.

 To submit feedback, visit www.itdprojects.org to take an online survey or email ITD at info@evidaho.org.

 “In essence, we want to know what’s important to Idahoans with the future infrastructure of electric vehicles,” ITD Senior Public Information Officer, Aubrie Spence, told the Idaho Capital Sun in a July 12 online article.

 State plans will be reviewed and approved by Sept. 30, after which Idaho Transportation Department officials will develop a feasibility and access study.

 The network, once complete, will consist, in part, of charging stations situated every 50 miles of interstate, according to the ICS article.

 “In visiting with DEQ, they are very interested in locating units in Weiser,” Hibberd wrote in his weekly column for the Weiser Signal American. “Between Caldwell and Lewiston, there are no charging stations and the state’s objective is to create the infrastructure to encourage electric vehicles. Ontario doesn’t count because it is out of state.”

 An online search for area charging stations turned up several stations in the vicinity, including locations at Hometown Chevy in Fruitland and another at Vale RV Park in Vale, Ore., according to shareplug.com. Ontario has a free level 2 station at the Clarion Inn, according to chargehub.com.  A popular station is located at the Ontario Market Place, near the Home Depot. Charging stations have three levels of charging capability, with level 1 the slowest and level 3 the quickest, with an approximate 15- to 20-minute charge cycle.

 “They would have to be the quick-charge type,” said Hibberd of a potential charge station in Weiser. He added that the Vendome could be one potential site.

 “Placing the charging stations at the Vendome parking lot would help bring people to downtown Weiser where they can browse, shop, and eat while waiting for their car to charge,” Hibberd said. “It would also provide a small amount of revenue for the city’s electric department.”