The Federal Highway Administration awards Rogue Valley Clean Cities Coalition the Environmental Excellence Award for the 585‐mile West Coast Electric Highway. The Excellence in Air Quality Improvement and Climate Change award was shared by Rogue Valley Clean Cities Coalition, The Oregon Department of Transportation and Washington State Department of Transportation for the border-to-border fast-charging stations along I-5.
WHAT is the Environmental Excellence Awards Program?
This award was developed to recognize those that excel in meeting growing transportation needs while protecting and enhancing the environment. The FHA commends businesses and non-profit organizations that provide leadership in environmental protection and noteworthy natural resource preservation.
WEST COAST ELECTRIC HIGHWAY
The “West Coast Electric Highway” is an expansive network of DC Fast charge station for electric vehicles located every 25 to 50 miles. The green highway allows electric vehicle drivers to make longer trips and travel between cities along Interstate 5, Highway 99, and other major roadways in Washington and Oregon.
In July of 2012, Rogue Valley Clean Cities Coalition sponsored Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley to take a trip in an electric vehicle in a Nissan Leaf from Salem to Ashland using the West Coast Electric Highway.
Senator Merkley completed a 340 mile trip in 9 stops ending in Ashland Oregon. A press conference was held at Brammo headquarters. During the press conference, Senator Merkley said, “We just traveled over 300 miles, went through 8 Oregon counties, and didn’t pay for one drop of gasoline. That’s what I call declaring independence from overseas oil. This was an incredible experience. Not only to show that an oil-free trip across Oregon is possible but to talk with Oregonians about why we need to end our addiction to overseas oil and make smart investments like electric vehicles.”
The U.S. Department of Energy has a list of all public charging stations. For more information go to https://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_locations.html
To learn more about alternative fuels and how to reduce our nation’s petroleum consumption go to www.roguevalleycleancities.org
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