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Published on January 11, 2025
Grand Rapids to Install 32 EV Charging Ports with $1.5 Million Federal Grant, Detroit Lands $15.2 Million for 110 PortsSource: Google Street View

Electric vehicle infrastructure in Grand Rapids is set to receive a significant boost, thanks to a nearly $1.5 million grant from the Biden administration. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded the funds as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s zero-emission refueling infrastructure programs. The investment aims to support the installation of 32 new charging ports across the city. "These investments will help states and communities build out a network of EV chargers in the coming years so that one day, finding a charge on a road trip will be as easy as filling up at a gas station," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement detailed by MLive.

In addition to aiding in expanding publicly accessible charging options, the funding reflects President Biden's wider goal of installing half a million charging ports by 2030—a target the country is on track to possibly surpass ahead of schedule. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, over 200,000 public EV charging ports are operational nationwide. Grand Rapids complements this federal initiative with its local efforts, including an EV carshare program launched in October and adding electric vehicles to The Rapid's fleet, as noted by a WZZM13 report.

The grants are part of a larger plan that encompasses the installation of EV charging ports and includes further enhancements to alternative fueling infrastructure, such as hydrogen and natural gas stations. Detroit also benefited from the federal grant program, receiving nearly $15.2 million to install 110 charging ports. "Forty-nine cities and territories in the U.S. were awarded grants as part of an initiative to deploy over 11,500 EV charging ports and alternative fueling infrastructure," according to information by MLive.

With $16.6 million allocated to Michigan by the FHWA, the grants signify a strong desire to ramp up EV support within and across the nation, reflecting a stride toward environmental responsibility and a commitment to modernize transportation infrastructure.