EAST WENATCHEE – The electric vehicle charging area of ​​the new gas station at the south end of the Douglas County PUD headquarters is scheduled to open next month.

Installation of the new green hydrogen fueling station at the Douglas County PUD headquarters, 1151 Valley Mall Pkwy., is moving forward after fueling equipment was delivered Tuesday.

“Unfortunately, we had to remove some grass and trees to do this, but we hope it will be very convenient for our customers,” said Meaghan Vibbert, spokesperson for the Douglas County PUD.

KRCI Construction is the contractor for the project.

The new filling station will be equipped with four charging stations for level 3 electric vehicles and a hydrogen filling station.

“We still have a bit of work to do,” said Vibbert. “I think the electrical system is almost finished. Today the trenches are being filled. Then we will get asphalt and wire up all the equipment. Everything will probably be available to customers by the end of September.”

The Douglas PUD hydrogen plant currently being built near Baker Flats is not expected to start producing hydrogen until “late 2024,” Vibbert said. Once that happens, there will be a trailer that will transport the hydrogen to fueling stations and dispense it through the new plant.

Until then, only the EV part of the station will be in operation at the PUD headquarters.