Standing beside of an electric vehicle charging station, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-New York) recently announced that New York State will receive over $26 this year and another $175 million in funding for electric vehicle charging stations over the next five years. This investment, which Suozzi helped negotiate in his role as Vice-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, will transform access to charging stations for New Yorkers and save the average electric vehicle driver up to $1,000 per year.
During the press conference, Suozzi emphasized that the New York Power Authority (NYPA) must put in place a comprehensive plan on how they will use these funds to ensure charging stations are installed along roads, routes, and highways across New York. Photos from the press conference are found here.
“Electric vehicles are the future! But for too long, drivers of electric vehicles have struggled to find charging stations, causing range anxiety – that will no longer be the case. This funding, that I helped secure for New York, will transform access to charging stations. Now, the New York State government must put in a comprehensive plan to ensure these funds are used in a timely and efficient manner,” said Rep. Suozzi.
“In order to reach NY’s goal of 1 million electric cars on the road by 2035, the public needs quick and easy charging stations. Electric powered vehicles mean cleaner air for our communities, less asthma, less heart disease, less pollution. As part of the federal infrastructure package, New York is set receive $26 million over five years to help establish convenient, accessible, electric charging stations. A huge thank you to Congressman Suozzi for ensuring necessary federal dollars for NY to progress on our clean energy goals,” said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment.
The United States’ network of 100,000 chargers is currently insufficient to service the growing number of EV owners — and also struggles with inconsistent plug types, payment options, and data availability. The federal funds on its way to New York will address these shortcomings and drastically expand the network of charging stations across New York.
Distributed by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, the funds announced today will put New Yorkers to work building a convenient and equitable network of chargers across the state, making electric vehicles more accessible for both local and long-distance trips, while simultaneously addressing climate change.
