Home News & Features Sleeping Lady Resort to Install Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Sleeping Lady Resort to Install Electric Vehicle Charging Station

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LEAVENWORTH, WASH.—The Washington State Department of Commerce recently announced that the nation’s first “electric highway” along Interstate 5 (I-5) will now be extended to include Highway 2—connecting the cities of Monroe, Leavenworth and Wenatchee to a network of public access electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort just announced that it will install its own on-site charging station to help support the use of electric vehicles—such as the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Volt and Ford Focus—along nearby Highway 2. Sleeping Lady is currently the first resort in Eastern Washington to purchase an EV charging station.

“Sleeping Lady has always been deeply committed to the environment and sustainable travel practices,” said Lori Vandenbrink, sales and marketing director for Sleeping Lady. “We hope that the installation of our charging station will help support the increased use of electric vehicles as people travel to and from our area.”

A Coulomb Tech CT2103 charging station will be installed at Sleeping Lady in the spring of 2011 to coincide with the installation of high speed charging stations along I-5 and Highway 2. Guests of the resort and visitors to the local area will be able to use the station via a special ChargePass card. The station will be able to charge an electric vehicle to 100 percent power in about three to eight hours—depending on the vehicle. Overnight guests of Sleeping Lady will have complimentary access to the station, which can charge up to two vehicles at a time, including hybrid vehicles such as the popular Toyota Prius. Visitors to the Leavenworth area will also be able to use Sleeping Lady’s charging station for a nominal fee.

Part of Advanced Vehicle Innovations Initiative

North Central Washington was selected in part due to the efforts of Wenatchee-based Advanced Vehicle Innovations (AVI). The AVI consortium was conceived by the Port of Chelan County in 2005 to establish North Central Washington as a catalyst and center for development, demonstrations, and deployment of flex-fuel plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The AVI also strives to serve as a model for other rural and micro-politan areas throughout Washington State and the United States.

Washington’s network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure is part of the development of a regional EV network spreading across 1,350 miles of I-5, connecting three states and three countries and serving the 2 million electric vehicles anticipated on the West Coast. The project also supports the West Coast Green Highway, an initiative to promote the use of cleaner fuels along I-5 from British Columbia to Baja, Calif.

Sleeping Lady has long been known for its sustainable and ecologically-minded practices since opening in 1995—from composting food, to using the earth’s natural warmth to heat buildings, to growing produce in their very own certified organic garden. Sleeping Lady also uses all electric vehicles on site for food and beverage services, housekeeping, maintenance, and for conference services. Most recently, Sleeping Lady received B Corporation certification from B Lab, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit committed to using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. Unlike traditional corporations, certified B Corporations are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their employees, suppliers, community, consumers, and the environment.

For more information on Sleeping Lady, visit www.sleepinglady.com. For more information on Washington’s “electric highway,” including the project’s timeline and milestones, visit www.westcoastgreenhighway.com.

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