State Department of Transportation working with State Power Authority to expedite installation of approximately 20 new fast charging locations by end of 2024.
Supports climate leadership and community protection act goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050 and New York requirement for all new passenger vehicles sold in the state to be zero emission by 2035.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced a milestone in New York’s nation-leading effort to combat climate change and transition to zero-emission vehicles.
The Federal Highway Administration has approved New York state’s updated plan to utilize National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program funds to install and operate additional fast charging stations, clearing the way for the state to receive its next apportionment of $37.4 million to continue the buildout.
“In order to achieve our ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning to all-electric vehicles, New York state must have a vast network of charging stations that are easy to use and convenient to reach,” governor Hochul said.
“By utilizing these critically important federal funds and by working together and combining their great skills and resources, our State Department of Transportation and Power Authority will create a state-of-the art charging network that will encourage more people to own EVs and help make a stop at the gas station a thing of the past.”
The approval comes as the State Department of Transportation and the New York Power Authority entered into an agreement to allocate the first installment of NEVI funds —approximately £20 million—to close the remaining charging station gaps along major state highways.
Under this agreement, the Power Authority will utilize its Evolve NY fast charging infrastructure programme to identify potential locations and install charging facilities within at least 20 designated NEVI-program gap-areas along key state highways, with most expected to complete by the end of 2024.
The State Department of Transportation will leverage additional contracting vehicles for future phases of the NEVI programme beyond corridor build-out, such as public-private partnerships, to expand geographic coverage of publicly accessible charging infrastructure and to support creation of charging infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
The NEVI programme was created as part of the historic infrastructure investment and jobs act (“IIJA”) of 2021 and provides dedicated federal funding to states to support the strategic deployment of electric vehicle level 3 direct current fast charging infrastructure and establish an interconnected network for reliable charging, with an emphasis on locations near interstate highway exits.
New York is expected to receive $175 million over five years but must submit updated plans to the federal highway administration each year on how it intends to spend the money in order to receive its annual allotment.
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “creating a climate friendly transportation system demands that we do all we can to encourage the use of electric vehicles.”
“The Department of Transportation is proud to be a part of this new initiative, which will literally put a charge into New York’s nation-leading efforts to combat global warming and help make ev’s a more attractive and convenient option for motorists,” she added.
New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “the power authority is pleased to be New York state’s first recipient of NEVI federal funding, which we will leverage to accelerate the development of dc fast-charging to help New York achieve its aggressive carbon-reduction goals.”
“NYPA is excited to collaborate with our department of transportation partners to further expand our EVolve NY charging network by strategically filling gap areas along key highway corridors, allowing New york to quickly access the remaining federal funding available to ensure that ev travel becomes more accessible and convenient throughout the state,” he added.
