Lehigh Times

Gov. Tom Wolf (D-PA) revealed recently that his state will receive $25.4 million in federal dollars for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and so-called clean transportation.

"Pennsylvania is one of the first states in the nation to be approved for this first round of funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)," according to a news release from the governor's office. More than $170 million in federal funds will go to the state over the course of five years through a program called the Pennsylvania NEVI Plan.

"Addressing the global threat of climate change is a top priority throughout my administration, and it's a priority that President Joe Biden and I share," Wolf said in the news release. "Investing in EV infrastructure is a critical way to reduce greenhouse gases and make EV chargers accessible for more Pennsylvanians. I'm grateful that the Biden administration has committed a significant portion of the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for clean transportation, and that Pennsylvania will receive this initial investment to support our state's efforts."  

The money will be administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the news release noted. The funding is part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. It provides funds to states to deploy EV charging infrastructure and create a data-gathering network. There are plans to build Alternative Fuel Corridors along interstates to support long-distance travel. 

More than 31,000 EVs are registered in Pennsylvania, up from approximately 9,700 EVs that were registered in March 2019, according to the news release.

"PennDOT and our partners have been hard at work preparing for a future filled with electric vehicles," Yassmin Gramian, secretary of PennDOT, said in the news release. "These new funds available to us through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law give Pennsylvania the opportunity to reinvent transportation in a way that is smarter, cleaner, safer, more equitable, and more efficient than ever before, and we are ready to put them to good use."

The Wolf administration made other investments in EV infrastructure, the news release noted. This includes the Driving PA Forward program and the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program. Driving PA Forward issues rebates for EV chargers. The Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program "provides grants to EV and other alternative fuel infrastructure."

Ramez Ziadeh, acting secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, said that increasing access to EVs and chargers can help decrease air pollution, thus fighting climate change.

"These investments into improving EV charger infrastructure will mean cleaner air for Pennsylvanians and will pay dividends for years and generations to come," Ziadeh said in the news release.