Launch delayed

“I spoke too soon,” said Mayor David Olson in an email to business and political officials last week. The mayor, who has been a passionate advocate for installing an electric vehicle (EV) charging station at the intersection of Main & Butler, shared that “although the light is on” the charger is still in need a few finishing touches before it is ready for use. These include small technical adjustments and updates to the card system. Cathlamet Clerk-Treasurer Sarah Clark anticipates the updates will be completed in the next week or so.

“All planned site work has now been completed,” said Clark. “However, we are still working with our consultants to resolve a cable length issue for Teslas that has been brought to our attention.

The final step, according to Clark, is activation, which is taking a bit longer than she expected, due to a drawn out administrative process.

“Send an email with a form, wait for an email with another form, repeat,” she said.

Clark hopes to have the process complete by the end of the week, with a ribbon cutting planned shortly after.

Mayor Olson is planning for a big event.

“The ribbon cutting is meant to be a significant event, which hopefully will include visitors and VIPs from Cowlitz County,” other nearby counties, the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments, and others. He also hopes a representative from the Washington Department of Commerce will attend.

“We want to acknowledge the $100,000 plus DOC grant to purchase the unit,” said the mayor.

Further, the event will feature demonstrations by a local EV driver on how to properly use the charging unit.