Highways 8, 51 among state’s ‘Alternative Fuel Corridors’
For the Tomahawk Leader
WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced on Friday, Sept. 16 that the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) approved Wisconsin’s plan to expand its electric vehicle charging stations under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) initiative.
With the federal approval, WisDOT can now receive federal funding to implement the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan. WisDOT said it estimates that it will receive approximately $78.65 million over the next five years under the NEVI program.
The Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan seeks to develop a network of publicly accessible charging stations along Wisconsin’s Alternative Fuel Corridors.
Among the corridors included in the plan are parts of U.S. Hwy. 51 and all of U.S. Hwy. 8.
Six other highways (US 53, US 151 and US 41; parts of WIS 29, US 2 and US 141) and five interstates (I-90, I-94, I-43, I-41 and I-535) are also included in the plan.
WisDOT said the implementation of the charging stations will “support long-distance electric vehicle trips” and will help “overcome range anxiety,” noting that most electric vehicle charging currently occurs at home.
“As we work to implement the state’s first-ever Clean Energy Plan, upgrading Wisconsin’s electric vehicle infrastructure is one of the most important steps forward we can take to move towards a cleaner, more sustainable future,” said Governor Tony Evers. “This plan approval and the federal funds Wisconsin will receive as a result will help bolster our state, our infrastructure, and our economy for years to come.”
“We are seeing an increasing demand for electric vehicles in Wisconsin and manufacturers are ramping up production of electric models. Some manufacturers have goals of producing 100% electric vehicles in the future,” WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson stated. “To accommodate this growth, Wisconsin is stepping up its efforts to provide the electric vehicle infrastructure the state will need.”
To view the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan, visit www.bit.ly/3SemjR0.
