DOT injects $775,000 into northeast Kansas for new EV charging stations

JACKSON COUNTY (KSNT) - Federal dollars are being invested in a Native American reservation for the installation of several new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on Tuesday, Aug. 27 that a $775,000 grant will go to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation for the installation of four EV charging stations at four different sites across the reservation. This is part of a larger $521 million grant package to help increase accessibility to EV charging options in numerous states and eight federally recognized tribes.

 "As we build out EV charging on the highway network, we are also investing in local communities, rural, urban and tribal alike," said U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg. "These investments are a critical part of ensuring a more sustainable future."

The creation of these new EV charging stations will occur in rural and disadvantaged communities, according to the DOT. These projects support local economic development by creating high-paying positions and prioritizing the use of disadvantaged business enterprises.

“The EV charging and alternative fueling projects receiving awards today will help deliver world-class, clean transportation systems in Kansas communities,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “These investments put America on a path to lead the world in zero-emission transportation technology while creating good-paying jobs and reducing our carbon footprint.”   

This grant money is made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's (BIL) $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program. You can find a full list of grant recipients nationwide by clicking here.

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