Funding comes from the lawmakers’ Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse applauded a Department of Transportation announcement of $13.8 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for electric vehicle and hydrogen refueling charging programs for Boulder County and Colorado State University, connecting the I-25 corridor from Fort Collins through Pueblo. These investments will help build a national EV charging network to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs while making EVs more accessible to drivers.
“As our energy economy transitions, advances like electric vehicles are essential for cleaner air and fighting climate change,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “Filling gaps in our EV charging network across Colorado will make driving electric cheaper and more accessible.”
“These charging infrastructure investments will help fuel our transition to a clean energy economy, cut pollution, and expand access to electric vehicles for low-income and rural communities,” said Bennet.
“Investing in energy saving, effective, and green infrastructure for the long run is vital to tackling the climate crisis and protecting Coloradans. The funding announced today will expand access to charging stations for individuals with electric vehicles, modernize the electric infrastructure across the state, and help create good paying jobs in the process,” said Congressman Neguse.
“Boulder County is thrilled to receive this grant, a major step forward in expanding public EV charging infrastructure in underserved areas,” said Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy. “This achievement reflects the strength of our partnerships across municipalities, non-profits, state agencies, and utilities, all united in this effort, as well the support we continue to receive through advocacy by our congressional delegation. By prioritizing public EV charging installations in rural, multi-family, and low-income neighborhoods, we’re not just building infrastructure— we’re fostering a community-wide transformation towards a resilient and accessible future of transportation.”
“We want to express our deep gratitude for the leadership of our Colorado congressional delegation in supporting and championing this research on behalf of the people of our state. I’m grateful to the Colorado State University researchers who are continually discovering and implementing solutions in the sustainability space. This award builds on CSU’s longstanding expertise in clean energy and climate, and our commitment to workforce development in emerging industries,” CSU President Amy Parsons.
Colorado State University will receive $8.9 million to build three public hydrogen fueling stations near CSU campuses in Fort Collins, Denver, and Pueblo. Boulder County will receive $4.9 million to advance the community’s transition to zero-emission transportation by installing over 100 EV chargers in low and moderated-low income neighborhoods, rural areas, and high density neighborhoods.
Hickenlooper was part of a bipartisan group of 22 senators who negotiated and wrote the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, the largest investment in EV infrastructure in American history. In addition to the funding for a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging stations, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill includes Hickenlooper’s bill, the RECHARGE Act, which makes it more affordable to drive an electric vehicle by having states review utility rates for EV charging. Hickenlooper has also introduced the BIDIRECTIONAL Act , which would create a program to equip electric school buses with two-way charging technology that can help power the electrical grid when not being driven.
###