On a chilly winter morning back in January, we visited a small jobsite in the Mission District that had, for many years, been a parking lot. When we arrived, we found IBEW Local 6 member Scott Coletti hard at work transforming the fallow space into the West Coast’s first EV-fast-charging station for Brooklyn, NY-based charging provider Revel, which already has a handful of similar stations throughout New York City. More Revel stations are in the works both in the boroughs of the Big Apple and here in the Bay.

On that January day, Project Manager Chuck Sands from SF-based contractor Young Electric was also present at the parking-lot-turned-charging site, located at 199 Erie Street, to oversee work and provide guidance.

On Monday, March 24, we returned to 199 Erie to photograph the ribbon-cutting celebrating the official grand opening of the finished station. The event was attended by Mayor Daniel Lurie and various folks from Revel, Young Electric, and IBEW Local 6.

This photo feature includes shots taken during both visits.

Overall, this fast-charging station buildout represents a much-needed, eco-friendly project providing the kind of essential infrastructure that’ll ease the transition into a cleaner future — one whose new green economy still includes good union jobs.

Photos by Jana Ašenbrennerová