Chiloquin Celebrates Opening of New EV Charging Stations

Chiloquin Mayor Julie Bettles and CVIP President John Rademacher conduct ribbon cutting ceremony in Chiloquin.

Chiloquin Visions in Progress (CVIP), in partnership with the City of Chiloquin and Pacific Power, proudly celebrated the opening of the community’s new EV Charging Stations with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, November 15. The event marked a significant milestone for the rural community, signifying progress in sustainable transportation.

The event was attended by Todd Andres, Pacific Power Regional Business Manager; John Rademacher, CVIP President; Julie Bettles, Mayor of Chiloquin; Larry Dugger, CVIP Treasurer, and Kate Hawley, PacificCorp Manager of Transportation Electrification, to celebrate the opening of the new EV Charging Station in Chiloquin.

Mayor Julie Bettles opened the ceremony, emphasizing the importance of this project, stating, “This milestone is a leap and bound over where we were 10 years ago and will impact what is coming forward.”

Click here to watch the video.

CVIP President John Rademacher expands upon a Bob Dillon quote: "The Times They Are A-Changin"

"Come gather around people wherever you roam and admit that the transportation around you has grown," stated Rademacher, expanding upon a quote from Bob Dillon as he opened the ceremony. He extended heartfelt thanks to project contributors, including CVIP Treasurer Larry Dugger, who led the project from start to finish. Additional acknowledgments went to Pacific Electrical Contractors, Bob’s Excavating, Adkins Engineering, ChargePoint EV Chargers, and Pacific Power. Rademacher noted the significance of this accomplishment for the community, humorously stating, “You can’t buy a gallon of gas in Chiloquin, but you can charge your EV.”

The $238,000 project grant was provided by a Pacific Power grant with funding through the Oregon Clean Fuels Program administered by the state Department of Environmental Quality.  Pacific Power is providing grant funding to help businesses, cities, and nonprofits take advantage of the cost-saving, clean benefits of electric mobility.  CVIP administered the grant and coordinated construction. 

The project began over two years ago with CVIP investigating the possibility of bringing EV chargers to the City of Chiloquin by looking into potential grants and starting a conversation with the city. CVIP sought assistance from Jeff German, a board member of 350 Deschutes in Bend, submitted and obtained an eMobility Grant, and conducted a complete site plan. Construction began in April 2024 with trenching conducted by Bob's Excavating and the chargers installed by Pacific Power Contractors which resulted in the installation of two EV chargers at the corner of South 1st Avenue and East Schonchin Street in Chiloquin.

The station features a 240V ChargePoint Level Two Dual Charger, offering a slower, more cost-effective charging option, and a 480V ChargePoint Level 3 Fast Charger for quicker, premium service. These chargers are now listed on online maps for easy access by traveling EV drivers.

This project aims to provide direct economic benefit to Chiloquin by providing a draw for Crater Lake tourists using EV vehicles to our local downtown community, including the Two Rivers Art Gallery, our local restaurants, and our local farmers market. Currently, the closest public charging station is located 20 miles away in Klamath Falls or 12 miles away at the Crater Lake Resort, which is for customers only.

With the completion of the project, ownership and management of the charging stations will now transfer to the City of Chiloquin, which will also receive revenue from the stations' usage. This project reflects Chiloquin’s commitment to embracing a sustainable future while supporting residents and travelers.