WILLOW CREEK — Electric vehicle drivers passing through northern Aroostook County now have a place to plug in, as Willow Creek’s first two public EV charging stations went live Friday in the municipal lot behind the General Store.
The dual-port Level 2 chargers, funded by a $48,000 grant from the Maine Department of Transportation’s EV Charging Infrastructure Program, are capable of charging two vehicles simultaneously and represent the only public EV charging option within 45 miles.
“We had a family from Massachusetts park at the Irving station last July and ask Randy Boucher where they could charge their Tesla,” said First Selectman Arthur Pendelton at the ribbon-cutting. “Randy sent them to my house. That’s not a long-term solution.”
The chargers are free to use for the first year, with a modest per-kilowatt fee expected to take effect in 2025. Usage data will be collected to inform potential expansion.
Maeve O’Donnell, owner of the General Store adjacent to the charging lot, said she has already seen increased foot traffic. “People plug in, walk over for coffee or a sandwich, browse a little. It’s small, but it’s something we didn’t have before.”
The installation positions Willow Creek for the growing number of EV drivers seeking routes through northern Maine, including those traveling to Baxter State Park and the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.