Charging Smart, a program funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) that offers free technical assistance to help local governments accelerate the growth of EV deployment and charging infrastructure, is now available in all 50 states. 

Under the program, a local government can earn a Bronze, Silver or Gold designation in recognition of its status as an EV-friendly community.

The Charging Smart program is one of the DOE’s Energy Ready suite of programs designed to help local governments strategically manage expansion of distributed energy technologies, including EV charging infrastructure, solar power and distributed wind energy. The programs help local governments cut red tape, save staff time, ensure safety and increase economic development associated with these technologies.

The pilot phase of Charging Smart was launched in 2023 in the South, the Midwest, Colorado, Connecticut and Southern California. Nine Minnesota cities, including La Crescent, were the first to earn Charging Smart designations in 2024. According to Jason Ludwigson, Sustainability Coordinator for La Crescent, Charging Smart and its sister program, SolSmart, “really served as a good catalyst for us to make our permitting process faster and more efficient. The programs helped us reduce barriers to entry, particularly for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, and improved community connections.” 

Source: Interstate Renewable Energy Council