Energy officials celebrated the installation of the first electric vehicle DC fast charging station -- one of nine to be installed by 2019 -- during a May 15 ribbon-cutting event at the Southridge Sport Complex in Kennewick.

The station has a level 2 charging station as well as a DC fast charging station, which takes significantly less time to charge an electric vehicle.

It was paid for with a $405,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation as part of an EVITA pilot project to install nine stations along Washington highway corridors.

Linking the Tri-City area to Interstate 90 is seen as essential to the growth of electric vehicle adoption across the state, according to a press release.

Installation of the charging stations will be completed by June 2019. The total investment in the project, including in-kind contributions and matching funds from public and private partners, is more than $1 million.

EVITA -- which stands for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Transportation Alliance -- is an industry collaboration comprising Energy Northwest, Benton PUD, Franklin PUD, Benton REA, city of Richland Energy Services, city of Ellensburg Energy Services and Tri-City Development Council.

The station is located on the southwest side of the parking lot next to Hildebrand Boulevard, a block east of Highway 395, at 2901 Southridge Blvd.

The cost to use the station: