Hillsboro hopes its electric charging stations entice alternative-energy industry

Until now, they have done this work quietly -- "because it is the right thing to do, not because they wanted people to know about it," said Peter Brandom, the city's relatively new sustainability project manager.
But visibility will be key as Hillsboro pushes to become a leader in the alternative energy industry. Later this spring, it will make a significant step forward when it unveils 13 new electric vehicle charging stations.
City leaders don't expect all of the stations -- purchased for $43,000 total -- will be used right away, but they expect the investment will pay dividends later on. Other Oregon cities have purchased one or two charging stations, but state officials say Hillsboro's aggressive, early adoption will help the city attract an industry that brings with it lots of money and jobs.
"The industry around electric vehicles is in a little baby form right now, but it's going to become a very big business," said Multnomah County Commissioner Jeff Cogen, who led a governor-appointed task force that studied electric vehicles for more than a year. "The region that gets out front is going to profit immensely from it."
Oregon's "green" reputation is no secret. The state's environmental focus even helped lead Nissan to make the state one of its five test markets for its Leaf electric hatchback cars. Hillsboro has largely flown under the radar, though. Residents from other cities still think of it as a big box suburb, said Barbara Simon, a spokeswoman for the city.
But Hillsboro's city hall is LEED gold-certified. This year, the Columbia-Willamette Clean Cities Coalition awarded Hillsboro its "public fleet of the year" for the city's use of hybrids and other high-efficiency vehicles.
And one of its biggest companies -- SolarWorld -- is the largest manufacturer of solar cells in the country.
To attract more alternative energy companies, Hillsboro will have to stand out, said John Southgate, Hillsboro's economic development director.
"It's very competitive out there trying to attract new investments," he said. "If we're trying to attract alternative energy plants, the more we can point to 'Hillsboro gets it,' the better. The more we can show that ... this is part of our core values, that resonates. It's a quality of life thing. They're looking for cities that 'walk the talk.'"
That's true for Intel, the city's largest employer, says Bill McKenzie, a spokesman for the high tech company. McKenzie said Intel is "deeply committed to sustainability" -- it even has two of its own electric vehicle charging stations. By installing so many stations, Hillsboro is "sending a strong message to businesses and the larger community about the area's commitment to sustainability," he said.
Stephen Saltzman, a member of the governor's task force and an investment director at Intel Capital, said that opening these stations now -- before the cars are in wide circulation -- is a progressive move.
"When companies see a city like Hillsboro that is moving more aggressively, it sends a pretty strong message that it's a very forward-looking place," Saltzman said. "If you're into innovation, that approach is going to have some appeal."
Later this year, multiple car companies are expected to unveil more practical electric cars. They'll be cheaper and more efficient, Saltzman said. Investing now in so many stations gives Hillsboro an opportunity to work out any kinks, Saltzman said, before electric car usage hits a critical mass.
One kink is similar to cell phone roaming. A decade ago, cell phone users had to pay a roaming charge if they were connected to a different company's tower. These days, users from AT&T, for example, can use a cell tower powered by Verizon without paying a fee.
Hillsboro's stations will be operated by Coulomb Technologies, a company that will require an access card. A driver may be coming from a city that uses a different company, though. This pilot will give the city time, and data, to solve the problems before the cars are popular.
In the meantime, the stations offer an assurance to people who want to buy the cars. Right now, most electric cars can't go very far on one battery. If a driver lives in Portland but works in Hillsboro, he might not be able to make it to work, lunch and home on one charge.
That means most drivers now are hobbyists like Gary Graunke, an Intel researcher and an electric car enthusiast whose converted Honda can go only 60 miles on a charge.
The plethora of new hot spots will "make it easier for us to get around to more places," Graunke said.
By making that possible, the city will further reduce its carbon footprint. That's good, Brandom, the sustainability director, says, whether people know about it or not.

How it works

For now, Hillsboro will pay for the electricity, part of which will be powered by solar panels on the roof of the parking garage.
One existing station and 13 new stations, created by Coulomb Technologies of Campbell, Calif., will include cutting-edge features, including the ability to e-mail or text message the owner when a vehicle is fully charged. The network will also allow users to check to make sure a station is open.
To activate a charge, a user can either use a card or call a 1-800 number. The card system gives the city the option to switch to a payment plan later.
Charging time will vary by station, which accommodate only one car at a time. A Level One charge will give off 110 volts, while a Level Two will give off 240 volts. Using a 240 volt charge, the new Nissan Leaf will take eight hours to fully charge or 26 minutes for an 80 percent charge.