Staff Reports
In Pennsylvania, there has been recent talk about expanding the public electric vehicle (EV) charging system, but some conservative officials are feeling a little skeptical about it. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has been making moves to beef up the state’s EV charging infrastructure, and they’ve been making sure everyone knows about it. They’ve been hosting community engagement sessions and virtual information sessions to get the word out to potential contractors.
But hold on just a minute there, because this all comes with a hefty price tag. PennDOT is planning to dole out a whopping $171.5 million in federal funds over the next five years to build out this charging network. And get this – they’re requiring proposers to provide a minimum 20% match. That’s not chump change, folks!
Now, you might be thinking, “Well, if this is going to benefit the environment and make driving more sustainable, what’s the big deal?” But here’s the rub – these charging stations are going to be sucking up taxpayer dollars and requiring even more public funding to keep them running. Plus, with all these federal guidelines and regulations, it’s going to be a bureaucratic nightmare.
State lays out rules for EV charging station fundinghttps://t.co/Lwp8bSsixx
— The Center Square (@thecentersquare) November 27, 2023
Not to mention, these charging stations need to be installed with Level 3, or DC fast chargers, with specific power capacities and public accessibility 24/7. And don’t even get started on the ADA compliant parking spaces – it’s enough to make your head spin!
So, as PennDOT gears up to make their big announcement in May about who will be awarded these funds, you can bet there will be some raised eyebrows and heated debates about whether this is really the best use of taxpayer money. And as for where these charging stations will be located, you can bet conservative officials will be keeping a close eye on that too, making sure they’re not taking up prime real estate that could be better used for other purposes.
So, while the push for expanding the EV charging network in Pennsylvania might sound like a noble endeavor to some, there are plenty of conservative officials who are not so easily convinced. As they say, the devil is in the details, and when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars, there’s no room for error.
