DNREC launches grants to add charging stations
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The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has announced a $1.4 million program to add electric car charging stations, in an effort to improve availability of public charging stations in the First State.
The public direct current, or DC-fast electric vehicle charging installation funding will provide up to 75% of the cost to build publicly available DC-fast charging stations for electric vehicles.
The program will range from one to three grants. Funding will be targeted to increase the availability of electric vehicle infrastructure in areas where access to fast charging stations is limited.
“Vehicle electrification is a leading strategy in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from our transportation system,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “By providing funding opportunities for businesses to install charging stations, we are combatting climate change, improving public health and providing new job opportunities.”
Today’s announcement follows closely on the heels of the release of Delaware’s Climate Action Plan, which outlines strategies and actions the state can take to reduce the emissions that cause climate change. Widespread adoption of electric vehicles and installation of charging infrastructure to support the growing number of electric vehicle drivers are key strategies in Delaware’s Climate Action Plan, available at de.gov/climateplan.
Project funds will be administered by the DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy. Funding comes from the Environmental Mitigation Trust, which resulted from the state’s plan to use $9.6 million from the negotiated settlement between Volkswagen and the federal government.
Proposals are due by April 15, 2022. More information can be found at https://mmp.delaware.gov/Bids/Details/6580.
One question that doesn’t get asked, these charging stations, including the ones at the Rest Stop on US 13 near Smyrna, are the people who use these charging stations paying for the electric or are we the tax payer? It’s one thing to make the electric available for folks to charge their cars/trucks, but it is something else if we the tax payer are giving them FREE electric, that is NOT reasonable, in my view.