DEP Celebrates Installation Of Latest Electric Vehicle Fast Chargers To Help Reduce Vulnerability To Volatile Energy Markets, Fossil Fuels

On March 9, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell celebrated the latest electric vehicle DC fast chargers installed with agency support in a ribbon-cutting event hosted by Wawa and EVgo in Philadelphia. 

Thanks to $2.2 million from DEP grant programs, EVgo is installing 36 DC fast charging plugs for public access at 11 locations around the state.

“The Department of Environmental Protection has been pleased to play an early leadership role under the Wolf Administration in supporting the growth of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Pennsylvania,” said Secretary McDonnell. 

“Making electric transportation an option for more drivers is a key part of a transition to clean renewable energy that will reduce our nation’s dependency on fossil fuels. 

“It’s how we’ll become less vulnerable to international market disruption, and by eliminating tailpipe emissions, it’s how we’ll improve our air quality and slow down the warming of our climate and its negative impacts.”

Secretary McDonnell joined leaders from EVgo, Wawa, and the Philadelphia Office of Sustainability in cutting the ribbon on four new DC fast charging plugs at the Wawa convenience store and fuel station at 3901 Aramingo Avenue in Philadelphia.

With approximately $2.2 million from the DEP Driving PA Forward program and DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program, EVgo is installing DC fast chargers for 24/7 public access in 11 locations:

-- Allegheny County

     -- Sheetz, 9002 University Boulevard, Coraopolis        

     -- Sheetz, 251 Curry Hollow Road, Pittsburgh

     -- Target, 360 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead

-- Delaware County

     -- Wawa, 1550 Chester Pike, Folcroft Borough

-- Montgomery County

     -- ACME Market, 829 Montgomery Avenue, Penn Valley

     -- Plymouth Square Shopping Center, 200 Ridge Pike, Conshohocken

     -- Wawa, 8250 Limekiln Pike, Wyncote

     -- Wynnewood Shopping Center, 50 East Wynnewood Road, Wynnewood

-- Philadelphia County

     -- Fishtown Crossing Plaza, 2401 Aramingo Avenue, Philadelphia

     -- Wawa, 3901 Aramingo Avenue, Philadelphia

     -- Quartermaster Plaza, 2300 Oregon Avenue, Philadelphia

The locations are near high-traffic highways or in high-population communities, and nine are within or adjacent to Environmental Justice areas.

Click Here for electric vehicle and other alternative fuel refueling sites across the state.

Under the Wolf Administration, the Driving PA Forward program has supported projects to install 52 DC fast charging plugs in 18 locations and 1,400 Level 2 charging plugs in 400 locations.

The Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program has supported projects to install 52 DC fast charging plugs in 11 locations and 56 Level 2 plugs in more than 20 locations.

Driving PA Forward is funded by Pennsylvania’s share of the national settlement from the Volkswagen emissions cheating scandal. The Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program is funded by a portion of the state utilities gross receipt tax.

Resource Links:

-- DEP: Driving Electric Vehicles In Pennsylvania - Benefits And Basics

-- DEP: Alternative Fuel Rebates For Consumers

-- DEP: Electric Vehicles In Pennsylvania

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[Posted: March 9, 2022]  PA Environment Digest