An electric charging station for the PA Turnpike service plaza in Bowmansville, Lancaster County, was among seven projects chosen for Round 1 of the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEW) funding, the Shapiro Administration said today.
Applegreen Electric PA LLC was awarded $498,805 to complete the project.
“Our work to continue investing these funds will not only help build out our electric vehicle charging network, but will create good-paying jobs across Pennsylvania,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll.
Seven projects in six counties were selected to expand access to, and the reliability of, electric vehicle charging within Pennsylvania. The nearly $3.9 million 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).
“Working together, the Commonwealth — along with PennDOT, the PA Turnpike, and our other partners — can ensure that drivers who prefer EVs can travel anywhere in Pennsylvania without worrying about the next charging facility,” said PA Turnpike Chief Executive Officer Mark P. Compton. “Expanding availability of EV chargers will also boost interest in and sales of EVs, hastening Pennsylvania’s sustainability goals.”
PennDOT will be hosting six community engagement events including one at the Heritage Center, 297 Steinwehr Ave., Gettysburg on Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. and one at Googleworks, 201 Washington St., Reading, on Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. for community members to learn about EVs, funding options, the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program and more.
The conversations will allow community members to provide their input on where they would like to see EV charging infrastructure most in their community.
The NEVI funding supports the commonwealth and federal goal of expanding EV charging along the previously designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) and Interstate lookalikes. Pennsylvania has over 1,800 miles of AFCs.
NEVI formula funds must first be used to “build out” designated AFCs (meaning there must be no more than 50 miles between stations and less than 1 mile from an AFC exit) and meet U.S. DOT minimum standards and requirements, PennDOT said.
The PA NEVI program includes multiple rounds of funding. During Round 1 selection, the focus was on building out the AFC network along the interstates to meet the NEVI requirements. 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.
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.
PennDOT said it anticipates opening Round 1a later this fall with approximately $22 million available.
Later this month, PennDOT said it will release a map showing current gaps along the AFC network to help applicants prepare for Round 1a.