March 14, 2023 | News
Are you interested in purchasing or do you currently own an electric vehicle? Do you often visit our beautiful, award-winning Cap Sante Marina? You’re in luck, because the Port of Anacortes Commission has authorized an agreement with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to host six public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at the marina parking lot.
This action by our Commission is a three-way winning arrangement for the Port’s electrification goals, PSE’s plan to install EV chargers in our region, and our visitors and community. PSE will install the EV chargers while leasing the space from the Port, generating about $97,000 in Port revenue over the course of construction and the ten-year lease, and providing public charging at the marina parking lot. Installation is expected to be complete by Fall 2023.
Given the rising demand for EV charging, offering EV chargers was already one of our short-term goals when this opportunity with PSE came along. Providing our customers with top-notch amenities has always been a priority for the Port. By providing this key service at the marina, we can support current customers, help attract new visitors, and expand the ways our community benefits from our world-class marina. Four of the charging stations will be level two chargers (the most common type of EV charger), and two will be fast-charging, level three chargers, which typically provide a full charge in less than an hour, making them useful for longer road trips. For visitors who drive into Anacortes from out of town, the fast chargers will fill an important gap in charging infrastructure and make our community more accessible to people who drive EVs.
In addition to being a beautiful and welcoming place to visit and get out on the water, our marina is centrally located and within walking distance of many amenities in Anacortes, including great restaurants and coffee shops, shopping, hotels, and beautiful parks to get some steps in and enjoy the waterfront. We hope that providing multiple EV chargers in the marina parking lot will encourage more people to come and take advantage of all the fun and enrichment that our community has to offer, and that it will lead to increased economic opportunity for many of our local businesses.
In addition to improving our service offerings for customers and attracting the notable economic benefits that marina guests bring to our community, installing the chargers supports our electrification goals within our broader commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. We’re excited to keep working on reducing emissions across transportation modes as we strive to secure federal funding for shore-to-ship power in Anacortes. Keep an eye on this space as we continue working to improve and modernize our beautiful Cap Sante Marina, and come plug in to our chargers when they’re finished this Fall!