Electric vehicles have rapidly grown in popularity over the past decade in the United States, and with the growth in numbers, a need for charging stations has risen as well.

There are currently three electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Port Townsend city limits, and the city of Port Townsend’s Historic Preservation Committee reviewed plans last week for a fourth.

The advisory committee met Jan. 4 and heard a presentation from Steve King, city public works director, who discussed adding the fourth charging station in the Port Townsend Skate Park’s parking lot on Monroe Street.

The potential project could add between four to eight new EV charging stations to the lot.

The presentation recommends that the city should add a Level Three charging station to the parking lot with grant applications through the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The three existing stations in city limits are Level Two charging stations, while the proposed addition would be a Level Three station.

The level classification of charging stations signify the charging speed and type of power used for recharging EV batteries. Level Three stations can fully recharge most vehicles within an hour, making them significantly faster than the Level Two charging stations, which can take up to five hours to fully charge an EV.

The grant application process is expected to begin in January as the city will apply for subsidies to fund the new Level three stations.

City staff previously conferred with green energy consulting firm Cyan Solutions along with the city of Port Townsend’s Climate Action Committee before deciding on the Monroe Street parking lot as the potential destination.

According to the presentation, the reasoning for choosing the Monroe Street parking lot over other options is due to the spot’s potential benefits economically and for the public.

The parking lot will have ample space to install the stations, doesn’t have parking time allowances, and the lot is owned by the city. Additionally, the skate park’s parking lot is close to multiple downtown attractions including the Northwest Maritime Center, Key City Public Theater, and Memorial Field.

The project is in preliminary planning phases and has yet to go before the Port Townsend City Council, but could be realized if the city can secure grant funding.