OTEC installed this electric vehicle charger about a month ago in the parking lot of the Baker Armory, along Grove Street just north of Campbell Street.

Drivers of electric vehicles have another charging option in Baker City.

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative has installed a charging station in the parking lot of the Baker Armory, which is accessed off Grove Street just north of Campbell Street.

The station is an “open standard” model which can be used by a variety of electric vehicle models.

“We worked with the armory on using that space and had a lot of good community support,” said Charlie Tracy, director of engineering for OTEC.

This charger was part of an OTEC initiative that started three years ago to install EV charging stations throughout its service territory, which includes Union, Baker, Grant and Harney counties.

La Grande already had stations, so the focus moved to Baker City, John Day and Burns.

“Those places didn’t have anything,” Tracy said. “We knew if people were bringing their electric cars and touring, they’d need it.”

OTEC has installed one charger in Burns, and two in John Day.

Baker City does have Tesla supercharger stations near the freeway, but non-Tesla vehicles require an adapter. Tracy said the EV industry is moving toward using the Tesla charging technology as the standard across companies.

“In a few years, all (electric) cars being sold will have the same connector,” Tracy said. “It’ll double the amount of chargers available.”

He said OTEC has a long-term lease with the armory for access and two parking spaces.

“It’s all plumbed for two chargers,” he said. “If we see the usage climb, we’ll put in a second one.”

To coordinate the placement, Courtney Crowell, regional solutions coordinator for the Eastern Oregon region, worked as a liaison between the Oregon Military Department and OTEC.

Anca Matica, press secretary, said the governor’s regional solutions team is “focused on building community and economic development partnerships in all communities across Oregon.”

“Supporting the placement of an electric vehicle charging station in Baker City is just one example of how our team is working everyday to build relationships and solve local challenges across Oregon,” said Gov. Tina Kotek. “Our regional solutions coordinators help communities tackle all kinds of issues and lift up local needs to inform the work of my office.”

Location

The OTEC charger is across the street from Geiser-Pollman Park and the Baker Heritage Museum, and within walking distance of downtown.

“We prioritize that with all of our locations,” Tracy said. “It’ll draw travelers in.”

He said this station can charge an EV in about 45 minutes.

Baker City Councilor Loran Joseph was previously on city council when discussion first started of installing an EV charger near downtown.

“It ended up in a good place — close to the park and close to the freeway,” he said. “This gives more travelers an option to stop here.”

Joyce Bornstedt, the city’s public works director, said Baker City has an agreement in place with OTEC to include EV charging stations in the parking area for Central Park, which is located just east of Resort Street in the heart of downtown.

“After the agreement was executed, OTEC discovered that there were significant challenges with providing adequate power supply at this location,” she said.

Installing an EV charger downtown is still in the long-term plan.

“We look forward to partnering with them in the future when those supplies are upgraded to allow for installation of the stations,” Bornstedt said. “Location of those types of amenities in the downtown area would be significant to drawing visitors to our downtown and all it has to offer.”

Lynn Weems, director of the Baker Heritage Museum at 2480 Grove St., said she had reached out to Tesla about placing chargers closer to downtown, in addition to the superchargers already in place near the freeway.

“I believe that charging stations next to our most vibrant parts of the city is imperative,” she said.

She never heard back from Tesla. But now the OTEC charger is just across Campbell Street from the museum.

“I’m so happy that OTEC made this happen,” she said. “Charging your car? First stop, Baker Heritage Museum, next a walk through the park and on to Main Street. Suddenly they have spent the whole day in our wonderful community.”