— by Steve Jung —
Kudos to our islands’ electrical service cooperative for installing a new electric vehicle (EV) charging station at the Island Market.
After the demise of the old station, months ago, Orcas was a wasteland for EVs. Given OPALCO’s position as a supporter and provider of sustainable energy, this was a lamentable gap…a gap that is now filled.
Now if we can just get the Market’s parking spaces adjacent to the new station marked for use by charging EVs, we are good to go.
I like that OPALCO put in a nice twin station, with easy-reach charge cords. If those two are occupied, there is a nice EV charging station over at the Odd Fellows Hall – good for topping up when you are at classes, or dining at Chimayos.
OPALCO’s EV charging stations are an asset to the community and the environment. A great impetus to grow the number of EVs on our islands!
Thank-you OPALCO!
I charge my electric vehicle at home, but if visitors bring their EV to Orcas Island, they will appreciate having a place to charge them.
I also charge my Leaf at home and try to do so during the day to feed off our solar panels, but there have been times that I have used the Island Market charger. As a previous commenter said, this is good for tourists.
However, I suggest taking a lesson from Seattle’s experience and paint those specific parking places with green or yellow paint and add signs saying “Only for electric vehicles when charging.”