Energy Commission Celebrates New Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Mendocino County State Parks

While taking in the sights, visitors to Mendocino County will soon be able to recharge - in more ways than one - at one of 15 new electric vehicle charging sites. Many of the chargers will be located in state parks. All will be free to the public.

Working with the Mendocino Land Trust, California Department of Parks and Recreation, and other partners, the California Energy Commission is bringing 18 Level 1 charging stations and 30 Level 2 charging stations to sites throughout the county.

Chargers at Russian Gulch State Park are currently operational. The remaining sites are scheduled to open by end of 2017.

“The California Energy Commission is pleased to support these new additions to California’s electric vehicle charging network,” said Janea A. Scott, Commissioner at the Energy Commission. “These new charging stations provide drivers of plug-in electric vehicles with increased access to Mendocino County’s majestic state parks and other tourist destinations. They also promote consumer confidence in the availability of charging infrastructure, supporting efforts to get 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road in California by 2025.”

Installation of the charging stations is being made possible through a $498,040 grant to the Mendocino Land Trust from the Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP). To date, the program has invested more than $748 million to support innovations in transportation and fuel technologies that help California meet its energy, clean air, and climate change goals.

As of March 2017, the Energy Commission has funded more than $80 million in ARFVTP funds to support the installation of almost 8,000 charging stations throughout the state.

Community members Judy Tarbell, Ann Cole, and Jim Tarbell.

“Drivers of electric vehicles can now enjoy some of the state’s most beautiful and awe-inspiring landscapes while their cars are charging at one of these stations,” said California State Park’s Director Lisa Mangat. “Thanks to the work of the Energy Commission, Mendocino Land Trust, and other project partners, these charging stations will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Mendocino County’s state parks, improve air quality throughout the region, and help the state to reach its climate change goals.”

The Energy Commission grant supports the Mendocino Land Trust’s mission to facilitate public access to the Mendocino County’s natural resources. Previously, access to charging stations for plug‐in electric vehicles along the Mendocino coast was limited to a few private hotels and wineries, inhibiting regional tourism by drivers of electric vehicles.

Other project partners include the Mendocino Council of Governments, Visit Mendocino County, and the Mendocino County Air Quality Management District.

Photos courtesy of Mendocino Land Trust.