Electric moment

City celebrates ‘filling station of the future’

By Cliff Newell

The Lake Oswego Review, Sep 25, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (2 Reader comments)

This new electric car charging station is up and running on A Avenue near Second Street.

CLIFF NEWELL / Lake Oswego Review

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It was just a lone station and one small electric car.

But the city of Lake Oswego hopes that the new plug-in vehicle charging station on A Avenue will be the start of something big when if comes to sustainability.

Certainly, the area media thought it was a big moment on Monday morning, as the corner of A Avenue and Second Street positively bristled with reporters and photographers.

“We hope this is one of those things that sets an example,” Lake Oswego Mayor Judie Hammerstad said. “Most of all we hope this sets the stage for other communities to do this.”

“Lake Oswego is the first city in this region (outside Portland) to have a station,” said Kregg Arnston of PGE. “Avenue A is the heart of Lake Oswego, and it’s great to celebrate a new milestone here with what we hope is the filling station of the future.”

The man of the hour was Lake Oswego’s Brian Toye. He was not only the focus of many people with pads and cameras, but he had the honor of his bright blue Zenn being the first vehicle to be recharged at the station.

Toye was thrilled to see a project he had worked on for many months come into being. But he was also realistic.

“I still have the only electric car in town,” Toye said. “We’re there! Now if we can just get other cars coming.”

Still, Toye said he believes that the charging station could be a giant step toward convincing Lake Oswego drivers that electric cars are a good way to drive, save money and clean up the atmosphere.

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