HARTFORD, Conn — New electric vehicle chargers will be installed in seven municipalities around the state as a result of a $14 million federal grant it was announced Thursday.
Gov. Ned Lamont said the U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection with a $14.6 million grant through its Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program to expand Connecticut’s network of electric vehicle charging stations. The program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
he grant, which was applied for by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Connecticut Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Team (CTBILT), will be used to increase access to electric vehicle chargers in seven communities with an emphasis on neighborhood revitalization, transit-oriented development, and equitable access via additional on-street charging. They include:
- Barkhamsted – Two dual port Level 2 chargers at Barkhamsted Town Hall
- Bridgeport – 12 DCFC chargers at Brewport at 225 South Frontage Road; and 12 DCFC chargers at Boca Oyster Bar/Steelepointe on 10 East Main Street
- East Hartford – Two dual port Level 2 chargers at Silver Lane Plaza
- Groton – Two dual port Level 2 chargers at the Groton Public Library
- Hartford – 12 DCFC chargers at the Library Parking Lot on 166 Sheldon Street; 12 DCFC chargers at the MAT Garage on 55 Chapel Street; and two dual port Level 2 chargers at the Sheldon Lot on 141 Sheldon Street
- New Haven – 12 DCFC chargers at the Wilbur Cross Athletic Fields Parking Lot; and 12 200kW on-street chargers at Wooster Square
- Stamford – 12 DCFC chargers at the Bedford Street Parking Garage and 12 DCFC chargers at the Summer Street Parking Garage
Currently, there are 726 other publicly accessible charging locations across Connecticut.
“Connecticut is continuing to make investments in cleaner transportation thanks to our collaboration with our federal and local partners,” Lamont said. “Putting these funds to work in rural and urban communities around the state will make it easier for people and businesses to continue making the transition to cleaner cars and trucks.”
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“This funding gets us a step closer toward realizing the goal of providing Connecticut residents with greater access to electric vehicle infrastructure, particularly as we look to other means of transportation beyond fossil fuels," said Mark Boughton, senior advisor to the governor on infrastructure. "It’s important to note that this is only the first round of grant awards, and our team will be reaching out to cities and towns to help secure additional funding.”
The state said over the last year, there was a 19% increase in passenger electric vehicle registrations and a 30% increase in charging ports. The Connecticut Department of Transportation is investing $52 million toward a convenient, reliable fast charging network under its plan for of the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The federal Carbon Reduction Program also provided $79.1 million to Connecticut. Previously, DEEP awarded $6 million in funding to expand public access to charging stations in 39 Connecticut municipalities.
Doug Stewart is a Senior Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News and co-host of Car-Pinionated, a weekly show on the car industry on FOX61+. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.
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