Phoenix residents can soon expect a significant enhancement to the city’s electric car landscape. A $15 million grant has been awarded to expand the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Phoenix, an initiative aimed at improving accessibility and air quality. The funding was announced by Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego along with Representatives Greg Stanton and Yassamin Ansari, as reported by Kelly's Senate website.
The grant, originating from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is expected to bolster the city's charging network with 150 new EV charging ports. This includes the addition of multi-modal charging ports and portable solar-powered charging stations to further the city's sustainable energy goals. "This investment will create good-paying jobs, and help Phoenix improve regional air quality, while making electric vehicles a more affordable and viable option for Arizona families and businesses,” Senator Kelly told Kelly's Senate website.
Gallego emphasized the state's progression in clean energy and EV manufacturing. "Arizona is already a leader in clean energy production and electric vehicle manufacturing and today’s funding announcement will allow us to continue to grow these industries while helping Arizonans get where they need to go," he said in a statement. Representative Stanton added that the growing demand for clean transportation in Arizona necessitates this infrastructure expansion, a sentiment reflected in the increased EV sales after the passage of Congress’s Inflation Reduction Act.
In response to the funding, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego expressed her gratitude to the Biden administration and congressional leaders for securing a grant that would make Phoenix a better place to live, work, and visit. Regarding the impact of climate change on the region, Yassamin Ansari remarked, "From hotter and hotter summers to drought and wildfires, Phoenix families feel the effects of climate change every day—this new funding will invest in our city’s electric charging infrastructure, help modernize our grid and start the green transition for our state," as reported by Kelly's Senate website.
The initiative prioritizes equity and the inclusion of underserved communities, aligning with Phoenix's sustainability goals and the 2030 target to accommodate 280,000 electric vehicles.
