Nearly $171 million over the next five years will be awarded federal funds through the new Pennsylvania National Electric Vehicle Plan, according to a press release by Gov. Tom Wolf’s office. | Gov. Tom Wolf/Wikimedia Commons
Nearly $171 million over the next five years will be awarded federal funds through the new Pennsylvania National Electric Vehicle Plan, according to a press release by Gov. Tom Wolf’s office. | Gov. Tom Wolf/Wikimedia Commons
Pennsylvania was one of the first states in the nation to receive funds distributed through the bipartisan infrastructure law, with $25.4 million being awarded to enhance the electronic vehicle infrastructure.
Nearly $171 million over the next five years will be awarded federal funds through the new Pennsylvania National Electric Vehicle Plan, according to a press release by Gov. Tom Wolf’s office. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is administering the plan, and PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said his department and its partners have been working hard to prepare for a future that is “filled with electric vehicles.
“These new funds available to us through the bipartisan infrastructure law give Pennsylvania the opportunity to reinvent transportation in a way that is smarter, cleaner, safer, more equitable and more efficient than ever before, and we are ready to put them to good use,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said.
The NEVI Formula will provide funds to Pennsylvania and other states for the deployment of EV charging stations, as well as creating a network for data collection and efficiency purposes. One aspect will create alternative fuel corridors for a national EV charging network, with the main focus on interstate highways for long-distance travel.
The need for the stations is growing across the nation, and Pennsylvania is no exception. The amount of EVs registered in the state has nearly tripled since March 2019, going from 9,700 to 31,000, according to the most recent data.
“Increasing access to electric vehicles and EV chargers is one of the best ways to cut down on air pollution and fight climate change,” Acting Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Ramez Ziadeh said. “These investments into improving EV charger infrastructure will mean cleaner air for Pennsylvanians and will pay dividends for years and generations to come.”
Wolf said that he and President Joe Biden share the vision that addressing climate change is a top priority of his administration. Wolf said that investing in EV infrastructure is a key component in reducing greenhouse gas. He adds that creating more EV chargers is important for accessibility for drivers across Pennsylvania.
“I’m grateful that the Biden administration has committed a significant portion of the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for clean transportation, and that Pennsylvania will receive this initial investment to support our state’s efforts,” Wolf said.
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