Portland General Electric’s electric transportation plan advances

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The Oregon Public Utility Commission recently approved Portland General Electric (PGE) plan to advance electric mass transit, add charging stations for electric vehicles, and provide technical assistance to those purchasing electric vehicles.

The Transportation Electrification Plan outlines a partnership with Trimet to establish the state’s first all-electric bus route. PGE plans to install and maintain bus charging stations, and TriMet will have the ability to purchase additional electric buses.

“An electrified transportation system critical to a carbon-free economy, and the approval of our plan is a big step in that direction,” Bill Nicholson, senior vice president of customer service, transmission and distribution at PGE, said. “This plan is going to significantly increase accessibility, affordability, and reliability of a charging infrastructure —- further enabling our customers to choose electricity as their transportation fuel.”

Plans also call for six additional charging stations to be added across PGE’s service area, and for a three-year technical outreach program to educate car buyers about electric vehicles. ]

“Our innovative partnership with PGE allows us to not only test clean-running electric buses but thanks to their support, we are able to expand this test fleet from four to five buses,” TriMet’s Interim General Manager Shelley Devine said. “TriMet and PGE are helping to lay the groundwork for a future greener fleet in the greater Portland area.”