The Port of Olympia Commission voted on July 13 to pursue more than $1 million in state funding to install an electric aircraft charging station at Olympia Regional Airport, a project port officials say would make it one of the first airports in the Pacific Northwest with that capability.
The commission authorized Executive Director Alex Smith to apply for a Washington State Department of Transportation Sustainable Aviation Grant to cover the cost of installing a charging station near Safety in Motion Flight Center.
One key caveat: as of March 2026, the FAA had not issued a type certification for any manned electric aircraft, meaning no such planes are yet approved for passenger flight in the United States.
Grant request and local match
The grant request is for at least $1 million.
Commissioners agreed to put up a voluntary local match of 15 to 20 percent of the total project cost, or $195,000 to $260,000, drawn from the airport's capital project fund in next year's budget.
Airport Senior Manager Chris Paolini recommended a 15 percent match but told commissioners a 20 percent contribution would not cause any financial strain.
Commissioner Krag Unsoeld asked whether the port could comfortably afford the higher figure. Commissioner Joel Hansen pushed for 20 percent, arguing it would strengthen the application.
"I think as the transition happens, it will happen quickly," Hansen said at the July 13 meeting. "To prepare ourselves with the infrastructure necessary for those planes to come and go from our airport is a really wise move on our part."
WSDOT can fund up to 100 percent of a project's cost under the program, but a voluntary local match increases an applicant's competitiveness in scoring.
What the project involves
The work requires upgrading Puget Sound Energy's electrical service at the airport's edge from 208-volt, three-phase power to 480-volt, three-phase, an industrial-grade standard needed for high-load charging equipment.
Crews would also install approximately 800 feet of conduit from the street to the charging station.
Paolini said the site near Safety in Motion was chosen because it sits adjacent to a street that already carries three-phase power, making it the most practical location.
He told commissioners he is aware of only one other active electric aircraft charging station in the country, located in California.
A May 2026 Government Accountability Office report found that 47 U.S. airports have identified charging stations in their plans but noted broad challenges including uncertain costs, uncertain demand, and availability of reliable electricity.
What's next
WSDOT's application deadline for the current grant cycle was July 17. An independent evaluation panel scores applications through mid-August, and WSDOT submits a prioritized project list to the Legislature by October 1, 2026. The Legislature acts on funding during the 2027 session.
If the port's application succeeds, WSDOT would send award letters beginning July 1, 2027. Paolini said construction could start in late 2027 and continue through 2028.
