The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) has announced it will provide $1.91 million to fund new public electric vehicle charging stations across the state. The funding aims to expand the availability of DC Fast charging ports, with 25 new ports planned at 13 locations such as state parks, shopping centers, gas stations, town centers, and hotels.
According to DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson, “This investment will protect our air quality and public health, boost North Carolina’s clean energy economy, and enhance the accessibility of electric vehicle charging for North Carolinians. Transportation is the leading source of climate-warming pollution, and by expanding our EV charging network we’ll make it easier for owners of zero-emission vehicles to charge up and drive air pollution down.”
The department projects that these installations will prevent more than 657 tons of greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere. Additionally, they are expected to avoid 125 pounds of nitrogen oxide emissions and 1,191 pounds of volatile organic compound emissions.
Most grants were directed toward rural counties. Many projects will be powered entirely through Renewable Energy Credits that confirm electricity was generated from renewable sources like wind, solar, or hydro power.
Funding for this initiative comes from North Carolina’s $92 million share in a national settlement with Volkswagen over emissions violations. After distributing most funds in two previous grant phases, DEQ is now using unspent money from canceled projects for this latest round. The agency does not expect any further funds from the Volkswagen Settlement.
Fifteen percent of North Carolina’s settlement funds—the maximum allowed—have been allocated to electric vehicle infrastructure projects. Other grants have supported replacing older vehicles with cleaner alternatives such as all-electric school buses and transit buses.
