Over $5M in funding for EV charging stations in 9 Conn. towns

June 13, 2024

16 3 minutes read

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Connecticut currently has 44,000 registered EVs and 500 Direct Current Fast Charging ports.

HARTFORD, Conn — A total of more than $5 million will be distributed to nine locations across Connecticut to build electric vehicle charging stations, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Thursday.

According to the governor’s office, the funding will be given to help each location “plan, design, construct, operate and maintain” the charging stations, which will include “a total of 45 charging ports.”

The locations, chosen by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, will receive the conditional awards from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula program that has designated about $52 million to go towards the state, the governor’s office said.

Each chosen site will have Level 3 EV charging stations with at least four Direct Current Fast Charging ports, the governor’s office said. They will also be located about one mile or less from exit ramps along Alternative Fuel Corridors designated by the Federal Highway Administration. For more information on where these corridors are located, visit the Alternative Fuels Data Center here.

According to the governor’s office, the designated locations are:

Danbury – I-84 Exit 5 (17 Thorpe Street Extension)
Hartford – I-91 Exit 33 (165 Leibert Road)
Meriden – I-91 Exit 16 Northbound (1101 East Main Street)
New Milford – Route 7 / Route 202 Intersection (61 Danbury Road)
Plainfield – I-395 Northbound Service Plaza (1 Connecticut Turnpike East)
Moosup – I-395 Exit 32 (12 South Main Street)
Putnam – I-395 / Route 44 Intersection (50 Providence Pike)
Waterbury – I-84 Exit 22 Westbound (105 Meriden Road)
Willington – I-84 Exit 71 (327 Ruby Road)

12 priority zones along Connecticut AFCs were identified by the NEVI program for EV stations, according to the governor’s office. The state did not receive “eligible applications” for three of the zones, including Route 7 in North Canaan, I-95 in Old Saybrook and I-95 in Norwalk during Phase 1 of the program and they will each be issued a Request for Proposal later this year.

According to the governor’s office, information from the EValuateCT dashboard shows that Connecticut currently has 44,000 state registered EVs and 500 DCFC ports.

The CTDOT NEVI program is from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law enacted in 2021, according to the state’s website. The program is expected to provide $5 billion over five years to states to implement DCFC ports along highways.

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Lamont noted that the funds for EV charging stations will help ease commuters into the transition to “cleaner cars and trucks.”

“Thanks to the support of President Biden and our Congressional delegation, we have federal NEVI funding to ensure Connecticut has the infrastructure in place for residents, no matter what type of EV they are driving,” Lamont said. “Once again, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is paying dividends for Connecticut.”

Garrett Eucalitto, Connecticut’s transportation commissioner, said, “Having these spaced no more than 50 miles apart means drivers will not have to worry about where the universal fast charger will be. Part of our overall strategy of reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector includes having reliable EV chargers where people are already stopping or traveling. Our NEVI program is helping us achieve those goals.”

Katie Dykes, the Connecticut Energy and Environmental Protection commissioner, added that the funding is a “step toward a cleaner, greener future.”

“The transportation sector is currently our top emitter of harmful greenhouse gas emissions and responsible for two-thirds of smog-forming air pollution in Connecticut. As the price of electric vehicles continue to drop, more and more Connecticut residents are choosing to purchase EVs to lower their carbon footprint and reduce their gas and vehicle maintenance expenses,” Dykes said. “Federal investments like this allow the state to expand our EV charging network across the state, providing hybrid and EV-driving residents and visitors with greater ease and access to charging and the confidence to travel further on an electric charge.”

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