The City of Pittsburgh just got electrified with a hefty grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, a cool $2.4 million, to jack up the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging spots around the city. This cash infusion comes as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s push for a greener grid of EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure. The folks at the White House made the announcement this past Tuesday, as reported by the City of Pittsburgh.
The federal grant isn't floating the whole tab, though. Duquesne Light Company is tossing in $470,000 and the City is kicking in $38,000 in in-kind services to the pot. These dollars are gonna make it possible for people to plug in their rides at parks, public parking spots, and even on the street.
Pittsburgh’s Mayor Ed Gainey is all in, saying in a statement obtained by the City's bulletin, “This grant will enable us to ensure the next generation is able to call Pittsburgh home. That means safeguarding our environment through forward thinking use of energy. We have already made great strides in electrification of City of Pittsburgh vehicles with 88 electrical vehicles already in our fleet and 78 electrical vehicle chargers."
It's a team effort within the city departments, too. The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI), Department of City Planning (DCP), and Department of Public Works (DPW) are the squads teaming up to bring this project to life. The plan's got legs with 16 charging ports divvied up over four parks and 36 more ports across five public parking facilities. Plus, a shiny new Second Avenue Charging Hub is on the drawing board, offering fast charging for locals and delivery drivers alike.
