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‘Landmark’ nearly $250M will go toward electronic vehicle charging infrastructure on I-95

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‘Landmark’ nearly 0M will go toward electronic vehicle charging infrastructure on I-95

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The Clean Corridor Coalition, a four-state initiative led by New Jersey, was awarded a “landmark grant” from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday to build green infrastructure along the I-95 corridor with the hopes of significantly reducing harmful air pollution and creating jobs throughout the region.

According to the EPA’s announcement, this award, worth nearly a quarter of a billion dollars, will fund the “electric vehicle charging infrastructure for commercial zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles along the Interstate-95 freight corridor.”

More specifically, according to the EPA, the $248.9 million in funding will establish 24 freight truck charging sites with 450 charging ports across four states including New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland.

The funds will also go toward training 400 workers with a focus on providing opportunities for lower income communities.

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“By driving emissions reductions in the transportation sector, this project will deliver significant environmental and economic benefits, setting a new standard for clean energy initiatives nationwide,” said the EPA, which expects this infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 18.6 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent by 2050.

While standing among climate and freight industry leaders at the Vince Lombardi Service Area in Ridgefield on Wednesday, EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia said that this grant “marks a pivotal investment in our efforts to address climate change and promote environmental justice along Interstate 95.”

According to Garcia, the grant will not only reduce harmful air pollution along one of the nation’s busiest freight corridors, but it will also create jobs and deliver health benefits to communities along this route.

A four-state effort led by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Clean Corridor Coalition hopes to deploy zero-emission vehicle charging infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles along I-95 and adjacent roads from Connecticut to Maryland.

According to the NJDEP, the I-95 corridor from Connecticut to Maryland is one of the most densely populated freight corridors in the country.

“Expanding our charging infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles is key to lowering emissions and improving air quality in our communities,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “I’m proud to celebrate building out charging infrastructure along the I-95 corridor, which will help us facilitate New Jersey’s transition to an electric vehicle future, support workforce development, and provide benefits to our overburdened communities.”

Murphy continued, “We are thankful to the Biden-Harris Administration and the members of our congressional delegation who voted for the Inflation Reduction Act for securing this critical funding.” 

According to the EPA, this grant is being funded by the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program, which aims to provide nearly $5 billion in grants to “states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution.”

“Electrifying I-95 is an extraordinary effort that will deliver long lasting public health benefits for New Jerseyans and the region,” said NJ Sierra Club Director Anjuli Ramos-Busot. “This is a massive win for climate action, regional air quality, and the communities experiencing roadway pollution.”

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