You may be able to top-off your fuel tank next fall while parked at Pleasant Hill school campus

BY DEAN REA/Correspondent/The Herald — Plan to fuel up your vehicle while teaching, working at or visiting the Pleasant Hill school campus starting next fall.

That is if you own an electric vehicle and wish to top off the batteries for an inexpensive fee, says Rob Currier, energy services coordinator for the Emerald People’s Utilities District.

A $50,000 station financed by grants is expected to be installed during the summer at Pleasant Hill, Elmira, Marcola and Cottage Grove school campuses.

The Pleasant Hill school board Monday night discussed EPUD’s plan to locate a six-vehicle electrical charging station in the parking lot behind the high school.

“Why hide it?” board chairman Jeff Bernardo asked.

No one present at the meeting appeared to know the answer.

“We tried to balance the cost of the infrastructure and installation with access,” Currier explained during a telephone interview Tuesday.

Grants from three sources are financing the level 2 charging stations at the four schools. Currier described level 2 charging stations as those used to “top off” energy levels with that of the expensive level 3 gasoline-type stations.

Currier said that in addition to providing affordable fuel access for electrical vehicles, the charging station also may lead to “educational opportunities for study of electric vehicles.”