EV charging stations could become more prominent in communities with new funds
CRANBERRY TWP — Electric vehicles are common sites on the township’s busy roads, and Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of EV charging stations, but most are along the interstate system and the turnpike.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is now offering $25 million in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure “Community Charging” funds to help businesses, organizations and developers build public EV charging stations in Western Pennsylvania communities. The NEVI program will cover 80% of the cost of a charging station project and applicants will have to cover the remaining 20%.
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll was joined by Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission executive director Rich Fitzgerald and officials from the township and county in announcing the available funding.
Carroll said the state received $173 million National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, or NEVI, funding, and $70 has been spent on charging stations along interstate highways and the turnpike. Of the $100 million available for community EV charging projects statewide, $25 million has been allocated for Western Pennsylvania and the rest is available in other regions. EVs and plug-in hybrids can use the charging stations.
Aug. 21 is the deadline to submit proposals, and award announcements will be made in October or November. Information about the program and application process can be found at pa.gov/evcommunity.
“Organizations who visit this website can connect with operators and builders to partner on their projects and deliver alternative fueling options for residents,” Carroll said.
He said PennDOT worked with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission to conduct a survey to identify priority locations in Western Pennsylvania, and worked with other regional planning organizations for surveys in other regions.
“Hundreds of thousands of EVs are in the possession of our residents across the state, and so many of those folks don’t have the ability to charge their vehicles at home,” Carroll said. “These charging stations that exist now on our interstate network and interstate look-alikes will be complemented by charging stations in communities.”
PennDOT and the state are national leaders in putting NEVI money to good use, and no state money is involved in the program, he said.
The elimination of federal tax credits for EV purchases has reduced sales, but EV sales are not going to stop, he added.
“To think of a great community like Cranberry, I couldn’t think of a more vibrant place in which they really would have a lot of opportunities in this community to have the NEVI charging stations,” Fitzgerald said.
Existing EV charging stations are required to be no more than a mile from interstate exits and have fast charging speeds. The community stations can have different speeds, said Colton Brown, of PennDOT.
Township manager Dan Santoro said he believes parties from the township will be interested in pursuing NEVI funding. He said 25,000 people work in the township, and Interstate 79, the turnpike and Route 19 bring a lot of people to the township.
Leslie Osche, chairwoman of the Butler County Commissioners, said the NEVI funding is a great opportunity for businesses and beneficial for the many people who drive EVs. The charging stations also would benefit EV drivers visiting the county.
