On September 9, the Department of Environmental Protection announced $608,216 in FAST Act Corridor Infrastructure Grants funding for projects that will add five electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging locations in Allegheny, Butler and Luzerne counties helping to expand drivers’ route options for these zero emission vehicles.

“The number of electric vehicles in Pennsylvania increased nearly 50 percent in 2018, indicating that businesses, organizations, and residents are increasingly interested in electric vehicles and the healthier air quality, climate change mitigation, and lifetime cost savings they provide,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “DEP is committed to helping build out the charging network to support these consumer choices and advance state goals to reduce air pollution and slow climate change and its impacts and costs.”

Through its Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants Program, DEP awarded the corridor infrastructure grant funding to American Natural to install EV fast chargers for public use in five locations:

-- 2 Rich Hill Road in Cheswick, Allegheny County

-- 4100 Grandview Drive in Gibsonia, Allegheny County

-- 2619 Wexford Bayne Road in Sewickley, Allegheny County

-- 940 Sheraton Drive and 201 Scharberry Lane in Mars, Butler County

-- U-Go Stations, Inc., 601 Church Street in White Haven, Luzerne County

Every location will have two plugs, at least one of them a fast-charging plug. Thirty minutes on a fast charger will give most EVs 100-250 miles of driving range.

Combined, the five new charging stations are expected to eliminate approximately 67.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. 

The stations will increase drivers’ options for EV fast-charging along sections of Interstate 79, Interstate 76, Interstate 80, for which DEP and PennDOT have secured federal designation as “EV charging corridors.”

Under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act of 2015, the Federal Highway Administration permits states to designate highway sections as EV charging corridors once they have fast-charging stations every 50 miles. The stations must be located within 5 miles of the highway. 

Corridor designation allows states to place additional signage on these highways indicating that fast-charging stations (or other alternative fuel stations) are available. PennDOT is developing a signage package.

More than 18,200 passenger EVs were registered in Pennsylvania as of December 2018. While EVs are still a small fraction of all vehicles in the state, it’s a nearly 50 percent increase from December 2017.

Businesses and organizations are encouraged to learn more about the DEP FAST Act Corridor Infrastructure Grants and other grants that support installation of EV charging for fleet or public use.

Find more information by visiting DEP’s  Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants and Driving PA Forward webpages.

Other Clean Vehicle Grants

These other clean vehicle programs are accepting applications for grants or rebates--

-- December 11-- DEP Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants

-- December 31-- DEP Alternative Fueled Vehicle Rebates (apply anytime)

-- December 31-- DEP Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rebates (apply anytime)

-- February 26-- DEP Fast Charging Hydrogen Fueling Grants (first-come, first-served)

Related Articles:

-- Senate Republicans Cut Off Debate, Pass Bill Taking Away DEP’s Authority To Adopt A Carbon Pollution Reduction Program For Power Plants; Bill Goes To Governor

-- PEC/EDF: The General Assembly Has Remained Silent On Climate Change

-- Sen. Yaw Wants To Load Up Solar Energy Projects With Bonds; Will Kill $2 Billion In Private Solar Investment, Hurt Family Farms, Increase Electricity Costs

-- PA Conservative Energy Forum Hosts Town Hall Meetings Sept. 24 & 29 On Renewable Energy Support In PA And How Renewable Energy Is Essential To National Security

-- Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Transportation & Climate Initiative To Share Updates, Opportunity For Input Sept. 16 & 29

-- PA Conservative Energy Forum Hosts Town Hall Meetings Sept. 24 & 29 On Renewable Energy Support In PA And How Renewable Energy Is Essential To National Security

-- USDA Seeks Input On Ready-To-Go Technologies To Increase Production, Cut Environmental Footprint & Greenhouse Gases, Enhance Carbon Sequestration

[Posted: Sept. 10, 2020]

9/14/2020