Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that a federally-funded electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Emlenton, PA, is now open to the public following expansion under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The charging station is the second opened in Pennsylvania as part of the NEVI program, with the Commonwealth becoming only the third state to open multiple NEVI-funded stations after New York and Ohio. The Shapiro Administration – reinforcing its commitment to combatting climate change and providing Pennsylvania drivers with reliable, green transportation options – also recently announced conditional awards for Round 1A of NEVI project funding.
"After being one of the first states in the nation to begin construction on an EV charging station under the NEVI program, we're now getting even more done," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "Under Governor Josh Shapiro's leadership, our investments in electric vehicle infrastructure are paving the way to a greener, cleaner future with more options available for Pennsylvania travelers."
The charging station was installed at Emlenton Truck Plaza at the Route 38 exit (Exit 42) on I-80 in Venango County and will support a total of four ports capable of providing 150 kW of power to four vehicles simultaneously. The total NEVI funding awarded to the project was $456,318. 6406 Truck Plaza LLC will own and operate the charging station. While charging, customers will have access to the plaza's amenities. The plaza is open 24/7 and is a Pilot dealer location.
"Pennsylvania is leading the way in building out its EV charging network and opening its second NEVI-funded EV charging station, advancing the President's goal of installing 500,000 EV chargers by 2030," said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. "Thanks to historic investments from the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, states like Pennsylvania and their private sector partners are quickly and efficiently deploying EV charging infrastructure."
NEVI funding supports the Commonwealth and federal goal of expanding EV charging along the previously designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) (see a of AFCs here). Pennsylvania has over 1,800 miles of AFCs. Per guidance from U.S. DOT, 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.
“Pennsylvania is stepping out as a NEVI leader by demonstrating how federal funds can strengthen existing EV charging stations to deliver fast, reliable, and equitable infrastructure." said Executive Director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation Gabe Klein. “The latest NEVI station also highlights Pennsylvania's plan to further enable east-west charger connectivity to reduce critical corridor gaps and ensure EV drivers can charge and travel seamlessly across the state."
“We're excited to be the second NEVI-funded EV charging station to open in the great state of Pennsylvania. The new ports will provide a much needed location for travelers along I-80," said 6406 Truck Plaza Owner Ed Yasechko. “Our partner, Charge Point, has a great network and excellent uptime. Along with Fast Charging, customers can enjoy a fully-stocked travel store, Travelodge Hotel, 5 PA video gaming terminals, and the Plaza Restaurant, home of America's Worst Apple Pie."
The PA NEVI program includes multiple rounds of funding. During Round 1, of which the Emlenton station was awarded, the focus was on building out the AFC network along the interstates to meet the NEVI requirements. PennDOT recently announced conditional awards for Round 1A of NEVI funding which will help fill the remaining gaps along the AFC network. A list of Round 1A awards is available on PennDOT's website. Additionally, PennDOT recently announced the opening of NEVI Round 1B to close remaining gaps in the state's AFC network. Once AFCs are fully built out, PennDOT will shift to expanding EV chargers to Pennsylvania's community charging infrastructure.
Pennsylvania can compete for billions of dollars in federal funds across a wide range of federal grant programs through the BIL, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). To help communities and organizations learn about these opportunities, PennDOT created a web page, www.penndot.pa.gov/IIJA, with details on federal grant opportunities to help municipalities, townships, and other community agencies with understanding the multiple transportation program grants that are available. The page includes Grant Alerts, guides, and links to important resources for local municipalities and organizations interested in pursuing federal funding opportunities.
Information about state infrastructure in Pennsylvania, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/results. Find PennDOT's planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
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