FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Madison Hitchcock, mhitchcock@cowlitz.org
Washington Tribes Receive $15 Million Grant Award for EV Charging Infrastructure
LONGVIEW, WA – The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is proud to announce the receipt of $15 million in grant
funding for six Washington tribes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Charging and
Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program.
The grant award is the result of a joint application between the Cowlitz Indian Tribe as the lead
applicant and the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Klamath Tribes, Lummi Nation,
Puyallup Tribe of Indians, and Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians. The funds will be used to install 172
EV charging ports across six tribal sites in Washington and Oregon. Each site will also feature
chargers for e-bikes and e-scooters. These locations, selected for their strategic importance along
key travel corridors in rural and disadvantaged communities, are designed for future expansion.
The Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Klamath Tribes, and the
Puyallup Tribe of Indians issued the following statements:
“We are thrilled to receive this significant grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. This
funding not only supports our commitment to sustainable infrastructure, but also highlights the
power of collaboration among local Tribes. This project will have a profound impact on our
communities, enhancing accessibility and promoting economic growth. It reflects our core values
of stewardship, unity, and respect for our land and people, fostering a stronger, more resilient
future for Washington State.” – William Iyall, Chairman of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.
“The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation is proud to be a part of the Northwest Tribal
Zero Emission Vehicle Charging and Fueling Network grant led by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. This
grant will pay for EV charging stations at the Chehalis Tribe’s business enterprises, including The
Great Wolf Lodge and two of the Tribe’s End of Trails Fueling Centers/Convenience Stores and will
be of great benefit to our customers and employees.” -Dustin Klatush, Chairman of the
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation
“The Klamath Tribes is excited to participate in this program, which will provide more excellent
value to our tribal members and the general public at our businesses and administration. As we
move toward electrification of vehicles as a Tribe, it’s important not only for us to stay ahead of the
curve technologically but for the benefit of the environment and battle against climate change. We
look forward to working with other tribes in our mission to curb pollution and make our planet a
cleaner place to live.” -William Ray Jr., Chairman of the Klamath Tribes
“This is great news for the new year. The Puyallup Tribal Council declared a climate emergency in
2019, and installing more EV charging stations will help us get to a greener future. Thank you to the
Cowlitz Indian Tribe for leading the application.”-Puyallup Tribal Council
For more information on the grant and project proposal, click here.
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