State receives $33.8M to expand electric vehicle charging stations

Pennsylvania received $33.8 million in federal funding Monday for 54 projects to expand access to electric vehicle charging stations across the state. 

PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-PA, and Federal Highway Administration Deputy Administrator Andrew Rogers were joined by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) in Scranton to announce the first round of conditional awards for federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding.  

The projects in 35 counties were selected to expand access to, and the reliability of, electric vehicle charging within Pennsylvania. The initial federal investment is part of the $171.5 million PennDOT will receive and distribute for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure over five years through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).  

Local projects include:  

Berks County 

•  Electrify America, LLC: $741,290 for a charging station at the Sheetz in Bethel (I-78, Exit 13)  

Cumberland County 

•  Francis Energy PA, LLC: $738,937 for a charging station at the Sheetz in Carlisle (I-81, Exit 44) 
• Tesla, Inc: $256,626 for a charging station at the Wawa in Summerdale (I-81, Exit 65A 

Dauphin County 

• Electrify America, LLC: $775,804 for a charging station at the Sheetz in Harrisburg (I-83, Exit 45) 
• Sheetz, Inc: $163,838 for a charging station at the Sheetz in Harrisburg (I-81, Exit 77) 

Franklin County 

• Francis Energy PA, LLC: $793,457 for a charging station at Chambersburg Square in Chambersburg (I-81, Exit 17) 
• TA Operating LLC: $1.1 million for a charging station at the TravelCenters of America in Greencastle (I-81, Exit 5) 

Lebanon County 

•  Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores: $689,324 for a charging station at the Love’s Travel Stop in Jonestown (I-81, Exit 90) 

Lehigh County 

• TH Minit Markets LLC: $798,869 for a charging station at the Turkey Hill Mini Market in Allentown (I-78, Exit 57) 
• Wawa, Inc: $727,420 for a charging station at the Wawa in Allentown (I-78, Exit 49 A-B) 

York County 

•  Sheetz, Inc: $654,081 for a charging station at the Sheetz in York (I-83, Exit 21 A-B) 
• Tesla, Inc: $204,232 for a charging station at Shrewsbury Commons in York (I-83, Exit 4) 

“Our team worked diligently to meet federal NEVI requirements while also spreading opportunities among various companies and communities,” Carroll said. “Because of Gov. [Josh] Shapiro’s leadership and record of delivering for Pennsylvanians, we are among the first states distributing these funds that will provide travelers with options and confidence while also benefiting our environment. These new investments will create good paying jobs.” 

Four federally compliant charging ports will be funded at each charging location with 216 total funded charging ports. Twenty-two of the projects are in or within half a mile of state or federally designated disadvantaged communities.   

“This funding will allow us to deploy electric vehicle charging stations across our Commonwealth, from cities to suburbs to rural areas, promoting energy security, creating jobs, and reducing our carbon footprint,” Casey said. 

Moving forward, a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) public involvement process will begin for each project. Projects can begin after those processes are successfully completed and agreements with each recipient are executed. Some projects may begin as early as late 2023.  

“In Pennsylvania and across the country, President [Joe] Biden’s Investing in America agenda is building the backbone of our national network of EV charging stations that will ensure a seamless experience for drivers when they’re charging up – similar payment systems, clear pricing information, interoperable connector types, and reliable charging speeds as we make the historic transition to electric vehicles,” Rogers said.  

The NEVI funding supports the goal of expanding EV charging along the previously designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) and Interstate lookalikes. Pennsylvania has over 1,800 miles of AFCs.  

Once AFCs are fully built out, PennDOT will shift to expanding the NEVI Formula Program funding to fund right-sized EV chargers for Pennsylvania’s community charging. 

The PA NEVI program is a reimbursement program and applicants are required to provide a minimum 20% match.  

 While Round 1 NEVI projects progress, PennDOT continues meeting federal deadlines for additional funding rounds and working toward closing all AFC gaps while expanding community charging access.  Round 1 and 1a will focus exclusively on the AFC network. The department anticipates opening Round 1a later this fall with approximately $20 million available.