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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2012)
Smoke Signals 7 AUGUST 15,201 2 ,aslh cmmooiniiifty is a mrafiiraD-iproJecti' ELECTRIC continued from front page contractor supplying parts for, in stalling, operating and maintaining the charging stations, will begin charging a fee to recoup investment and make a profit. Still, the state anticipates that the owner of an electric car, paying for each charge, will save $1,700 in a year's time over a gas-powered car that averaged 22.6 mpg in 2008. Electrics run for about three cents a mile compared with the average gas-powered car that runs for about 10 cents a mile, though many vari ables affect the actual results. Each electric charging station will have a DC fast charger capable of replenishing an exhausted bat tery in 30 minutes, as well as a medium speed charger that takes from two to four hours for a com plete charge. Currently, U.S. -made electric vehicles, including the Chevy Volt, require the longer charge, while international models, including the Nissan Leaf, recharge faster. Ashley Horvat, West Coast Elec tric Highway Project manager for the Oregon Department of Trans portation, which is overseeing the effort for the state, said that driving her Nissan Leaf round-trip between Salem and Medford (458 miles), us ing the fast charge units, added 1.5 hours to the trip. "Headwinds are the biggest thing that impacts your mileage," she said. The Grand Ronde station will be among 22 locations currently slated for installation throughout rural Oregon, with 10 others already installed. Charging stations will be available to electric car driv ers every 25 to 30 miles in busier locations of the state and as far as 50 miles between stations in rural areas, Horvat said. The Electric Highway project in Oregon is being built with three grants totaling more than $4 mil- XJ' . - -ruM- 'Z: JsP Washington " ; ... ii Oregon X f T" " u -" ' " i , wwwra TO 'lm 1 M-MunvtOr $ Jf! a'f Bo f f i -'I i if I J Ctawff K.-"" I f? U ;j 'rflJM-TBi... l J: I I lion. The 2010 stimulus package allocated $915,000 and that has al ready brought 10 stations on line. A $2 million U.S. Department of Transportation award will bring another 22 on line by the end of 2012. The Grand Ronde station will be among the second group of charging stations. The scope of an Map created by George Valdez additional $1.34 million in federal transportation funds is currently being negotiated, said Horvat. "Each community (charging sta tion) is a mini-project," she said, including HAZMAT (hazardous materials) pollution concerns, as well as negotiations with the local utility and property owner. "The average station costs more than $100,000, with $50,000 of that being the cost of the equipment. Ac tual construction takes an average of 17 days," Horvat said. AeroVironment subcontractor Cascadia PM, based in Olympia, Wash., works with the Oregon Department of Transportation to scout locations for charging sta tions in Oregon and Washington. Hillsboro-based Quality Plus Ser vices Electrical is subcontractor for most installations, including the one coming in Grand Ronde. With the support of past and cur rent governors and Oregon's federal senators, the state Department of Transportation has moved forward with infrastructure that aims to encourage more car buyers to go electric. Oregon, with 1,300 electric cars, is leading the nation in its build out of the Electric Highway. ThTTWest Coast Electric Highway r promises a corridor by 2020 when some 2 million electric cars will be able to travel between Canada and Mexico without harmful emissions. The public plan anticipates that more private partners, like AeroVi ronment, will move in quickly. Some will set up stand-alone charging sta tions, others will build what Horvat , calls, "opportunistic charges," where, customers may be going to a grocery store anyway, and while there they will plug in for a charge. Fred Meyer" is already one of these, installing charging stations as new stores are constructed and as current stores are remodeled. ... Even with gasoline engines, 80 percent of trips are less than 40 miles, Horvat said, often making charging unnecessary while out for daily errands. For these drivers, many new charging units are being built at residences offering the op portunity for overnight charges. Another piece of a friendlier fu ture for the environment is being built today, and, said McClary, "It truly is a win-win." H .'.TnriM.'.' Aee Lnt J ' 1 t v. -(Y:"lfcJtt ' 1 .: J I jO. . , -v . n i,iu!m )wS V'-'k5 . , turn . j " . --TSs'r Yry' 1" r,- f ir V ' j tt 1MU-.' ' '..-Jirt'-T-.... t.-.. .-- - . top)w.iiagaiM1T)Tw t Agency Creek Road closure Agency Creek Road, from the junction with Grand Ronde Road to the junction with Yoncalla Creek Road (milepost 4.0), is scheduled to be closed beginning Aug. 21 through Sept. 21, 2012. This road closure is nec essary for road repairs, including re-paving, of Agency Creek Road. Alternative routes will be available (please see map on left). For more information, contact the Tribe's Project Engineer Jesse White at 503-879-2404. D
