The Washington State Department of Commerce this week announced $37.3 million in grants to support 104 electric vehicle (EV) charging projects across the state with three entities in Mason County receiving funds.
- Mason County PUD No. 1 was awarded $300,000 for two Level 3 (DC fast-charging) ports for the Geoduck Restaurant in Brinnon.
- Skokomish Indian Tribe awarded $900,000 for six Level 3 (DC fast-charging) ports.
- Squaxin Island Tribe was awarded multiple grants ranging from $25,000 to $150,000 (totaling $537,500) for 35 Level 2 charging ports of which two dozen will be for public use with the remainder being built for workplace or fleet use.
The projects will bring 754 new charging ports online by late 2027. The funding was awarded to 43 organizations through the Washington Electric Vehicle Charging Program (WAEVCP).
Click here for a full list of awards.
“We’re prioritizing investments where they will have the greatest impact,” said Sarah Clifthorne, interim director for the Department of Commerce. “Expanding access to EV charging in overburdened and rural communities will make clean transportation more practical, accessible, and affordable across Washington. Reliable charging infrastructure is critical for people who live, work, learn and travel outside our urban centers.”
State officials estimate drivers using the chargers could save more than $1,000 annually on fuel costs compared to gasoline-powered vehicles. A recent Electric Power Research Institute analysis showed that Washington EV drivers save an average of 73% per mile on fuel costs, the highest savings rate in the country. Gasoline prices are volatile, while electricity rates are set locally and tend to be more stable and affordable in Washington.
Awardees will install 550 Level 2 charging ports and 204 Level 3 (DC fast-charging) ports by late 2027. Once completed, the new charging sites are expected to deliver approximately 20 million kilowatt hours (20 GWh) of electricity each year, enough to power about 5,000 EVs across Washington while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20,000 metric tons annually.
These investments expand charging access to communities facing higher transportation costs and pollution burdens. They expand access to EV charging in public places and multifamily housing, so more people have access and the state can maximize its investment to help both community members and travelers charge up.
In addition to the installation projects, Commerce awarded $2.9 million in funding for seven projects that advance resilient, community-centered EV charging solutions across Washington. Two awards for innovation projects — one serving two locations on Whidbey Island and one in Fife — integrate fast charging with battery storage, renewable energy and microgrid technologies to improve reliability and expand access in hard-to-charge areas. Five site design projects will help communities, tribal nations, campuses, industrial zones, college campuses and local governments identify and prepare sites for future charging locations.