Snohomish PUD projects Aim To Increase EV Charging Access, Social Equity

by Peter Maloney
APPA News
November 2, 2021

The Snohomish County Public Utility District has entered partnerships to provide electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities on a socially equitable basis in Everett, Wash., where the PUD is based.

In partnership with the City of Everett, Snohomish PUD is working on a project to install an in-ground resonant magnet induction charging system for electric buses at Eclipse Mill Park near downtown Everett. The installation, the first of its kind in western Washington, would have the ability to charge public buses while they are in service at the bus stop. It will also serve as a demonstration project for future electric vehicle charging installations.

“This project will allow buses to quickly charge during layover times, improving overall route efficiency,” Melinda Adams, transportation services manager at Everett Transit, said in a statement.

In a second project, Snohomish PUD is partnering with HopeWorks to install two new electric vehicle chargers, supplementing an existing charger at the newly constructed HopeWorks Station, a housing and commercial building. Snohomish PUD plans to install one public fast electric vehicle charger and one Level 2 charger for the public, residents, and staff usage.

HopeWorks Station is designed as a Sustainability Demonstration Site that serves residents coming out of homelessness with affordable housing and a workforce development center providing a career training program.

Snohomish PUD said both projects aim to increase the availability of electric vehicle charging and transportation for communities historically underserved by electric vehicle infrastructure and disproportionately impacted by climate change and pollution from transportation.

Snohomish PUD said both projects align with its electric transportation goals as outlined in SHB 1512, the Washington State law that, among other things, gave public power utilities authority to invest in electric vehicle infrastructure.

Both projects will be partially funded by Washington State’s Clean Energy Fund, which is managed by the state’s Department of Commerce and supports the development, demonstration and deployment of clean energy technology.

The Clean Energy Fund will contribute $728,780 to the bus charger project, which has a price tag of about $800,000. The Clean Energy Fund will contribute $135,582 to the HopeWorks project, which has a total cost of about $150,000.

To date, Washington’s Clean Energy Fund has invested more than $131 million in 98 clean energy projects in the state.

The American Public Power Association’s Public Power EV Activities Tracker summarizes key efforts undertaken by members — including incentives, electric vehicle deployment, charging infrastructure investments, rate design, pilot programs, and more. Click here for additional details.