PennDOT plans to establish EV stations across Pa.; 3 in Luzerne County
Aug. 14—SCRANTON — Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll on Monday said the new federal investment of millions of dollars will create good paying jobs and allow Pennsylvanian residents, businesses and visitors to travel across the commonwealth faster, cleaner and more reliably.
"Our team worked diligently to meet federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (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."
Caroll said 54 projects in 35 counties were selected to expand access to, and the reliability of, electric vehicle charging within Pennsylvania.
The $33.8 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).
Carroll was joined by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, Federal Highway Administration Deputy Administrator Andrew Rogers, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to announce the first round of conditional awards for the federal NEVI funding. The event was held at the Scranton Electricians JATC Training Center.
"Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we can strengthen and expand our electric vehicle charging infrastructure," Sen. Casey said. "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."
Carroll said these awards further the Shapiro Administration's work to address climate change, grow the Commonwealth's economy and ensure that the future of Pennsylvania transportation is on track to be cleaner, safer, more affordable, and more reliable than ever before.
According to information provided by PennDOT, the conditional awards include various recipients — including seven headquartered in Pennsylvania — and site locations across the state.
Four federally compliant charging ports will be funded at each charging location with 216 total funded charging ports. Of the projects, 22 are in or within half a mile of state or federally designated disadvantaged communities.
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 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, inter-operable connector types, and reliable charging speeds as we make the historic transition to electric vehicles," Rogers said. "With federal investments made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Pennsylvania is taking a critical step forward as States across our nation begin deploying EV chargers for the communities they serve, and we are proud partner with them in this shared project."
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.
"Northeast Pennsylvania is leading the way by taking full advantage of the bipartisan infrastructure law and the resources it affords," said U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic. "With today's announcement, we're taking another big step forward in building out our electric vehicle charging network, modernizing our infrastructure, and creating good-paying jobs."
The NEVI funds support the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of charging sites. The PA NEVI program is a reimbursement program and applicants are required to provide a minimum 20% match. PennDOT received 271 unique funding submissions requesting $165.4 million for this round of investments.
Luzerne County sites
—Alnajukchahat Store, LLC: $1 million for a charging station at the Al's Quick Stop in Drums (I-80, Exit 262)
—Liberty Truck Center, Inc: $661,019 for a charging station at the Onvo Travel Plaza in Mountain Top (I-81, Exit 155)
—Pilot Travel Centers LLC: $610,393 for a charging station at the Pilot Travel Center in Pittston (I-81/476, Exit 175 A-B)
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.