Ramsey County this week will hold a "Plug-In" to mark the opening of its first charging station for electric vehicles that's available for public use.

The new charging station is at the Roseville branch of the county library, one of the state's busiest libraries in terms of visits and a leader in energy efficiency.

The Roseville station is one of 31 in Minnesota now publicly accessible, county officials said. A federal grant is expected to bring that statewide number close to 100 in the next year. Ramsey County expects to open six charging stations for electric vehicles by the end of 2013.

The kickoff event will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday as Andy Rodriguez of St. Paul, a Roseville library patron, plugs in his Chevrolet Volt in the library parking lot for the first official charge.

Other participants will include Ramsey County Commissioners Rafael Ortega and Jan Parker and Library Board Chair Paula Mielke.

The Roseville library is at 2180 Hamline Av. N.