This fast-charging EV station in the Hudson Valley is the first federally funded in NY

The City of Kingston now holds New York's first federally funded high-speed chargers for electric vehicles.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the four-charger hub on Washington Avenue was achieved through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act.

“As New York State continues to advance its nation-leading climate agenda, it’s imperative that we make key investments in the infrastructure needed to support the transition to electric vehicles,” Governor Hochul said in a statement.

Where are the high-speed chargers

The four-charger hub is in the Bank of America parking lot at 451 Washington Ave., just off of I-87 in Kingston.

It was installed through the NEVI program, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration and supported by the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation.

“We are pleased to be the first municipality in the State to use this Federal funding for our first Level 3 high-speed charging station and we appreciate the Governor’s support in helping Kingston become a leader in sustainability efforts," Kingston Mayor Steve Noble said in a statement.

Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger called the hub "just the kind of investment we need to enable convenient EV charging by residents and tourists alike and will actually draw more tourists to our County who are looking for convenient charging as they make their vacation plans."

What funding is allocated for EV charging in New York?

Established in 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law included $7.5 billion for EV chargers. By 2030, the goal is to install 500,000 chargers nationwide. $5 billion will be used to build these standardized fast-charging stations along interstate highways.

"Our Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law is supercharging the electric vehicle future in New York, and I am proud to announce the first federally-funded, fast electric charging station has powered up in the Hudson Valley," Schumer said in a statement.

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The law provides $175 million to New York to support development of electric vehicle Level 3 Direct Current Fast Charging infrastructure. New York received its second annual formula fund apportionment of $37.4 million in NEVI program funding in September of this year, with the program having a five-year life.

Kingston is among the first cities in the nation to have these fast charging stations. Senator Schumer added, "these high-speed chargers mark the first of many new stations, propelling us towards a cleaner, more sustainable future for all.”

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Where charging stations will be installed in New York

New York State Department of Transportation and the New York Power Authority have partnered to complete the build out of the state’s electric vehicle alternate fuel corridors by expanding the Power Authority’s EVolve NY fast charging network.

New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said Power Authority is New York State’s first recipient of federal funding dedicated to filling in commonly traveled routes with a minimum number of high-speed charging stations, with one site every 50 miles or less.

The EVolve NY fast charging program is identifying potential locations to build more hubs, with the majority targeted to be complete by the end of 2024.

The next NEVI site in New York will open soon at a Mirabito store in Richmondville in Schoharie County, and a third site is scheduled for completion in North Hudson in Essex County in the Adirondack Park in the coming weeks.

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Kingston's fast-charging EV station is first federally funded in NY