Rhode Island recently became the first state in the nation to complete Phase 1 of the alternative fuel corridor established by the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula funding program.
The $5 billion NEVI program and $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure or CFI discretionary grant program – both funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)—seek to help states build out a network of EV chargers across the country.
The Federal Highway Administration approved all the EV charging plans submitted by the states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia in September 2022 with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) being allocated a total of $22.9 million from the program over a five-year period to support construction of EV chargers.
“The completion of NEVI Phase 1 marks a milestone moment in Rhode Island’s commitment to a greener and more sustainable future, “said Gov. Dan McKee in a statement.
“By creating the infrastructure for cleaner transportation alternatives, we’re not only working towards our ‘Act on Climate’ goals but leading the charge to decrease our carbon footprint,” he said. “I’m grateful to the private and public partners who came together on this project that demonstrates our state’s continued commitment to enhancing our state’s EV charging infrastructure and the green economy.”
Currently, there are a total of eight Level 3 Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFCs) and six Dual-Port Level 2 charging stations that have been constructed along the Alternative Fuel Corridor on Interstate 95 in Rhode Island.
RIDOT said at a ribbon cutting ceremony that it plans to begin work on Phase 2 of the NEVI program this fall, further expanding EV charging infrastructure across public roads and other locations statewide.
Source: ABC 6 News, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
