The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has announced that it will fund the installation of up to 38 additional fast charging stations in Greater Minnesota, extending the existing EV highway corridor network by more than 2,500 miles. Chargers are to be placed 30 to 70 miles apart along 7 proposed corridors.

The new $2.6-million grant opportunity leverages funds from the national Volkswagen settlement. Applicants will be asked to place 5 to 7 fast chargers along specific segments of roadway. Applications for grant funds are due by November 25. Details are available at MPCA’s web site.

“When we’ve asked Minnesotans how we should spend funds from the Volkswagen settlement, building EV infrastructure is one of the most widely supported proposals,” said Rebecca Place, MPCA’s Electric Vehicle Program Administrator. “We are planning for the future by ensuring each charging station has a back-up station and enough electrical capacity for future expansion.”

Over the last two years, MPCA has expanded Minnesota’s EV charging network along highway corridors by approximately 1,100 miles and funded 25 Level 2 charging stations, each with two charging ports, in local communities.

“Minnesota has set ambitious goals for powering 20 percent of light-duty cars with electricity by 2030 and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050,” said MPCA Commissioner Laura Bishop. “Funding infrastructure projects like this will help us reach our goals while supporting Minnesota’s green economy and our growing EV market.”

Source: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency