 JUNE 2023
Hi, I’m Ashley Cissna with the EWEB Communications Team.
Happy June! This month we are excited to talk about electric mobility, including how EWEB is preparing for a surge in EVs and where you can test drive several popular EV models.
Plus, we’ve got another quiz question for you (hint: the answer is in one of our news articles!)
We hope you enjoy this month's newsletter, and please let us know what you think. Email us at publicaffairs@eweb.org.
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We are the people in your neighborhood!
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Environmental Specialist David Donahue teaches McKenzie School students about Harmful Algal Blooms. The students operated a water quality sensor and collected samples at Blue River Reservoir, then took the samples back to the lab to examine under a microscope.
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Making electric mobility accessible to all
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Drive down any urban street in the Northwest, and you’ll see an electric vehicle in the next lane. Ride down any commuter bike path, and you’ll see an e-bike zooming along.
Electric mobility is everywhere. But it’s not accessible to everyone. Learn more about how we are working to bridge that gap through EV car shares, community grants and electric bike rebates.
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Trivia time!
Saving fuel can make a big difference in your budget. Here in Eugene, how much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle for an entire year?
A) $1,000 a year
B) $500 a year
C) $2,500 a year
D) $350 a year
Read on to learn the answer!
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What's happening at your community-owned utility?
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 EWEB's electric grid prepared for EV surge
Electric vehicle sales are poised to skyrocket in the years ahead as technology improves, more models hit the market, prices fall and regulations limit the sale of gas-powered vehicles. And EWEB is preparing for this surge.
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 Electric vehicles benefit customers and the community
The rising cost of gasoline and growing consequences of climate change are driving more and more people to look for alternatives to gas-powered vehicles. EVs offer benefits to individual drivers and the community that go beyond the gas pump.
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 My EV Story: Anthony's used Nissan Leaf
We love hearing from our customers about their EV journeys. Anthony and his family decided to purchase a used Nissan Leaf. Learn why they decided to pursue a used vehicle and what some of their criteria was in their search.
Do you have your own EV story you'd like to share? We want to hear from you!
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More news from EWEB
- Environmental programs: Together, over the past year, Lead Green customers supported local solar projects, planted thousands of trees and shrubs, reduced our community’s total carbon emissions and so much more. Thank you to everyone who backed these efforts for the environment and our community. Learn more.
- Education: As students, parents, and teachers begin winding down another school year, we want to highlight some of the many ways EWEB customers support local schools and help inspire kids to explore the wonders of watershed health and clean energy resources. Learn more.
- Resiliency projects: Infrastructure is critical to quality of life, public safety, economic vitality, and so much more. But the electric grid and drinking water systems we all rely on are threatened by age, natural disasters, and climate change. Learn more.
- College Hill Reservoir: After serving Eugene for over 80 years, the 15-million-gallon (MG) College Hill Reservoir has reached the end of its useful life. EWEB will dismantle the leaky and antiquated reservoir and replace it in the next few years with new, modern drinking water storage tanks built to withstand major earthquakes. Learn more.
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Board of Commissioners meetings and topics
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The Eugene Water & Electric Board is owned by our customers, who elect a five-member Board of Commissioners. At the June 6 public meeting, Commissioners will discuss:
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Hydrogen technology and applications in the energy sector
Topics will include the different types of hydrogen production, trends and policies, and EWEB’s interest in hydrogen, including secondary market potential, applications in hard-to-decarbonize industries, local grid support, and resiliency.
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Board policy directing EWEB to incorporate resiliency into project criteria
Resiliency is defined as the ability to reduce the likelihood, magnitude, and duration of disruptive events through risk mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery strategies.
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Electric and water Capital Improvement Plans (CIP) priorities
The CIP forms the foundation of EWEB’s long term financial plan and annual budget.
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Approval of contracts and resolutions
Monthly review and approval of decisions made by the board and contracts for infrastructure and maintenance projects, major equipment purchases and other contracted services.
You can view the full agenda for the June 6 meeting here. You can also learn how to watch online, attend in-person and provide public comments.
Read a recap of the previous Board meeting (4-minute read)
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Test drive an electric vehicle this weekend
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Register now for the June 10 event
If you’ve seen an electric vehicle passing you on the road, you may have wondered what the fuss is all about. Now is your chance to come check them out. This Saturday EWEB is sponsoring an Electric Car Guest Drive Event!
This event is completely FREE for EWEB customers. Prior registration is required, and spaces are limited, so be sure to reserve your drive time today!
EV owners will be on-hand with their personal vehicles to tell you all about why they decided to go electric. No pushy sales people! If you’ve had concerns about range or wondered how charging works, this is a great opportunity to talk to people of have done the research and gone through the process.
Date: Saturday, June 10
Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Eugene Science Center, parking lot
2300 Leo Harris Pkwy
Register Now!
We hope to see you there!
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Apply for an electric mobility grant
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EWEB's Electric Mobility Community Grant is open to non-profits, academic institutions, or public organizations to cover costs associated with electric mobility projects in EWEB's service territory. Five grants will be awarded up to $25,000 each.
Applications are due on June 30, 2023. Learn more and encourage your favorite non-profit, school or public agency to apply!
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Ride into summer with e-mobility programs from EWEB
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If you are exploring electric mobility, EWEB has rebates that can help you get moving.
Our $300 electric bicycle (e-bike) rebate is perfect for those who want to travel faster, but need a little extra assistance than a standard bike can offer. In addition to helping you save money on transportation costs, e-bikes reduce pollution, relieve traffic congestion and promote physical and mental health benefits.
Interested in testing out a few e-bike models? Check out the E-Bike Expo this Saturday, June 10 at the Campbell Community Center, hosted by the City of Eugene.
For those who have purchased an electric vehicle, EWEB wants to make it easy, fast and convenient for you to charge your EV at home. With EWEB’s $500 Smart Charge Rebate we can help you pay for the purchase and installation of a qualified level 2 home charging station.
Funding for both rebates is in part made possible by the Oregon Clean Fuels Program (OCFP), administered by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ).
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A healthy workplace, competitive pay and comprehensive benefits make EWEB a great place to work. We're looking for talented people to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to our team.
Featured Job: Water Engineering Technician II
Help provide clean, safe drinking water to our community. The successful candidate will perform project inspections, ensure that contractors are in compliance with EWEB’s standards, maintain accurate project records, and interact with contractors, engineers, developers, and the public to support EWEB’s core mission and values.
Check out this and other job openings.
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Preparing for emergencies
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Events like wildfire, earthquake or even a really bad winter storm can impact the electric and water systems and other public services we all rely on. In a severe emergency, some services could be disrupted for weeks or even months.
Preparedness is a shared responsibility. We're making investments to prepare, replace and maintain our community's electric and water systems. You can do your part by following Oregon Office of Emergency Management's recommendation to build a kit and make a plan to be without public services for two weeks.
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Be Prepared: Generator safety is a top priority during power outages
No one likes to lose power, and power outages during the heat of summer can create a different set of challenges for residents. Using a generator when the power goes out is a great option, but safety should be the top priority for both you and utility workers.
Emergency tip: Before refueling the generator, turn it off and let it cool down. Gasoline or other flammable liquids spilled on hot engine parts could ignite, and invisible vapors from the fuel can travel along the ground and be ignited by the generator's pilot light or by arcs from electric switches in the appliance.
The proper use of generators during the heat of summer can reduce the risk of fire ignition. Learn more about generator safety.
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Your monthly Pledge to Prepare Checklist
Pledge to Prepare is a 12-month blueprint to get you and your household two weeks ready in case of large emergency outage.
In June, continue to build on food and water supplies you gathered in previous months, and ensure that your water heater and other large furniture is secured to the wall. In the event of an earthquake, these large items can prove to be additional hazards if they fall, blocking exits, causing damage and even physical harm. Download the full June Checklist
Share a photo of your progress to be entered to win the monthly raffle.
Join Pledge to Prepare
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Deep dives for fellow utility nerds :-)
Clean energy investment to hit $1.7T, widening lead on fossil fuels
Global investment in clean energy is growing. But not quite fast enough. The world invested a total of $1.7 trillion in clean energy projects in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). But that’s not enough investment to meet climate goals. IEA says that $4 trillion in annual clean energy investment is necessary to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Read more at Canary Media
WA passes climate goals for crypto and data centers while OR’s effort fails
This year, both the Washington and Oregon legislatures attempted to regulate the carbon emissions associated with data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations. In Washington, the legislation passed. In Oregon, it failed. Read more at the Oregon Capital Chronicle
Dry soils and recent heat bode ill for fire season in Oregon
Warmer than normal temperatures on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains could worsen fire danger this season, experts warn. A wet winter didn’t completely recharge soils, leaving them dry and at risk for fire. Read more at KLCC
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Trivia answer:
How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle for an entire year?
If you guessed option D, $350 a year, congratulations, you are correct!
EWEB's electrification study estimated that the average household drives roughly 11,500 miles a year. Using EWEB's current residential rates we estimate it costs about $350 to charge an electric vehicle for a year. That is a big cost savings compared to the approximately $2,000 it costs to fill up a gas-powered vehicle for a year.
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