This opinion was originally published in Vol. 34, Issue 3 (November 2023)
Guest Opinion by Deena Larsen
Expensive gas + long commutes + more affordable electric vehicles = a growing need for electric vehicle charging. This equation is compounded on the WSU Vancouver campus as we are a 100% commuting community with steep hills to climb. And while shuttles may be an answer, they are not always around for some evening classes, etc. Moreover, students have shown considerable interest in electric/hybrid vehicles (EV) to help address rising gas costs. In a survey of 75 students conducted on Sept. 20 by students Steven Linstad and Isatou Dumbuya, 96% of the students agreed that gas has become expensive. These costs pose financial difficulties that could derail getting a degree or commuting to work. EV ownership is rising, as 80% of students surveyed knew someone who had an EV and 76% had considered purchasing an EV. Under a new addition last year to the State of Washington’s Zero-Emission Vehicles plan, in just 12 years, all new cars in Washington State will need to be electric, hydrogen-fueled or hybrid with at least 50 miles of electric-only range. Therefore, the time to start a ten-year plan to meet this growing demand is now!
Without a solid strategic plan to develop EV charging on campus, it won’t happen. WSU Vancouver may not be able to take advantage of the many calls for funding assistance (such as the Washington State Electric Vehicle Charging Program) to help plan and fund EV stations. People with EVs will consider the lack of EV chargers when determining where to get their degrees or where to work.
Ahhh, but with a solid strategic EV plan that furthers WSU Vancouver’s overall strategic plan, WSU Vancouver could shine! We could attract more people to campus, strengthen community ties, and help lower our carbon footprint in Vancouver. We could become a leader in this growing field. Furthermore, planning for EV on this campus is a great opportunity for students to add to their portfolios and attract employers:
– Engineering students could survey the campus utilities and create a preliminary assessment of potential locations for EV charging stations.
– Students taking economics courses could examine potential capital and operation and maintenance costs to develop cost-benefit analyses.
– Business administration students could develop business proposals and calculate returns on investments, and pursue business partnerships and funding sources.
– Environmental science students could examine potential environmental benefits on campus.
– Political science students could conduct more surveys to gauge interest and project potential use.
– Strategic communications students could develop materials to promote EV.
All of these actions fit with WSU Vancouver’s overall strategic plan for 2020-2025. Practical research into our campus’ capabilities and ways to address growing environmental issues can lead the way for resilient infrastructure to accommodate growing needs to support EVs. Providing convenient ways to charge EVs will help address financial difficulties for a more equitable and inclusive student community. Even more, these actions will help our students succeed with real-life experiences for their resumes. It will indeed take an engaged community to create EV on the WSU Vancouver campus.
How can we work together to plan for a bright and fully charged future? I am simply an artist in residence here for just the semester. But I have planted a seed for working on this strategic plan at http://www.tinyurl.com/WSUEV. Someone like you will have to take this on and grow this to success!
Deena Larsen, Artist in Residence, Electronic Literature Lab
Deena Larsen has been an electronic literature writer for over three decades. As a pioneer in the field, her works have been among the first interactive poetry collections (Marble Springs 1993), the first web work for the Iowa Review (Ferris Wheels 1999), etc. Her latest collaboration with Faith Bassey is the first Nigerian-U.S. digital work published in the U.S. (The Water Seller in New River Journal 2023). She has led numerous writers workshops and conferences. She is currently the artist in residence for the Electronic Literature Lab, Washington State University, Vancouver.