Drexel Foundation’s Electric Vehicle Charging Station & local amenities a Success & regional Sensation

Vale’s new FREE amenities are bringing people to town. The Grand Opera House at 147 Main Street in Vale Oregon is a new place to stop on the authentic Oregon Trail. Locals and tourists are enjoying a free bike repair station with tools and a pump, and a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station, with dual ports serving all types of electric vehicles.

“When the state of Oregon is looking at creating more electric vehicle charging station infrastructure, we have shown Vale is proactive in raising livability standards. Vale is a family-friendly affordable place to visit and enjoy. Oregon is on the cusp of a major change with electric vehicle infrastructure, and we put Vale on the map so people will get used to stopping to charge their vehicles and touring cyclists can fix their bikes here now.” Said Sandijean Fuson President of the Drexel H Foundation.

At the crossroads of Hwy 20 & 26 the EV charger has been busy since Nov 2022 to Nov 2, 2023 when it launched, with over 326 charging sessions, for 52 unique drivers, saving 1350 kg of greenhouse gases, providing over 46,313 miles, saving 152 gallons of gas equal to the scrubbing power of 38 trees. All this for FREE to all kinds of  Electric Vehicles visitors thanks to the Drexel H. Foundation.

Also at this Main Street location are exterior display boards celebrating untold stories of Basque families contributions to our community. The Grand Opera House exterior location is a center point to start a bike-walking tour with printed materials in the form of a map with QRscan-codes to connect to online historical photos for 10 of Vale’s downtown buildings to highlight these Historic properties. Also on the map are the locations to agri-businesses, and Vales Public Art, the 28 Vale Murals, which are interpretations of historic events from our area.

How did Drexel Foundation make it happen in rural Oregon? Several project partners worked with the Drexel Foundation on this project. It would still be just a vision but for local contributions and the project partners funders: Eastern Oregon Visitors Association, Travel Oregon, Cycle Oregon, Idaho Power, Oregon Cultural Trust: Malheur County Cultural Trust, and Eastern Oregon Border Board Scott Fairley Memorial grant.

“Scott saw the vision and had discussions with former Vale Mayor Mike McLaughlin, when Mike coined the phrase of Vale as “the greenest little city in all of Oregon” in 2013. Scott & Mike discussed Vale having this type of project with Electric Vehicle charging stations. Scott walked the grounds several times with Mike McLaughlin discussing the positive community use of the Grand Opera House during their work on the Governors Task Force for Economic Development together all those years. I sure wish Scott was still alive to see it really happen.” lamented Sandijean Fuson.

Come visit Vale! All types of electric vehicle owners can charge their car by using the phone app for EV Connect, and it is FREE. While your car is charging you can visit the local park, swimming pool, and skate park 1 block away or take a tour around town and visit the many local businesses. Find more local charging stations at idahopower.com/ev.