EYEWITNESS NEWS(WBRE/WYOU) — Good news for drivers of electric vehicles as Pennsylvania has received $33.8 million in federal funding to expand access to electric vehicle charging stations across the state.
Officials announced the project in Lackawanna County earlier on Monday.
Charging stations will soon be all over the commonwealth, specifically near Pennsylvania’s highways, with 54 projects already funded and even more, slated over the next five years.
“The number of people who own electric vehicles in our state is a growing number and it’s growing quickly,” said PennDOT secretary, Mike Carroll.
350,000 Pennsylvanians drive electric vehicles.
“And it’s imperative that we have facilities in place for people to be able to charge their electric vehicles,” Carroll added.
On Monday, PennDOT secretary Mike Carroll, U.S. Senator Bob Casey, and other local lawmakers announced the first round of conditional awards for Federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Funding.
Pennsylvania has received $33.8 million to begin 54 projects in 35 counties, including along highways, such as Interstate 81, 80, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Senator Bob Casey says it’s a good day to celebrate the history and the future just outside of the Electric City.
“We’re standing in Lackawanna County today not far from where I live in Scranton which made history in the 1880s as the Electric City as a great innovator within electric street cars,” said Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey.
28/22 News stopped by one of Lackawanna County’s charging stations in Moosic. Many e-v drivers say they are thankful to hear more charging stations will be popping up across the commonwealth.
“We have to plan everything very carefully when we are traveling around the state but certainly with more stations that will be planning much easier,” said Lancaster resident, Susan Robertson.
Robertson says it cost her and her husband roughly $45 to travel from Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Massachusetts and back.
“That’s a pretty reasonable amount of money, a lot different than paying for gas,” continued Robertson.
The initial federal investment is part of the $171.5 million PennDOT will receive and distribute for electric vehicle charging infrastructure over five years through the federal bipartisan infrastructure law.
“And it’s essential we do this, not simply because of the challenge presented by climate change but just to be able to have the kind of economy we have in the future,” Senator Casey stated.
The local charging stations include Mount Cobb, Scranton, and Clarks Summit, Drums, Mountaintop, and Pittston.
To learn more about the project or see other locations slated across the state head to PennDOT’s projects page.
