The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) has announced the allocation of $1.91 million for the installation of new public electric vehicle (EV) chargers across the state. The funding is intended to address gaps in the charging network, particularly along highways and in rural communities.
The grants are part of the Community and Destination Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program. They will support 25 new DC Fast charging ports at 13 locations, including state parks, shopping centers, gas stations, town centers, and hotels. A complete list of award recipients is available online.
“This investment will protect our air quality and public health, boost North Carolina’s clean energy economy, and enhance the accessibility of electric vehicle charging for North Carolinians,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “Transportation is the leading source of climate-warming pollution, and by expanding our EV charging network we’ll make it easier for owners of zero-emission vehicles to charge up and drive air pollution down.”
According to DEQ estimates, these projects are expected to prevent more than 657 tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere. Additionally, they are projected to avoid 125 pounds of nitrogen oxide emissions and 1,191 pounds of volatile organic compound emissions.
Most awards were given to projects located in rural counties. Many installations will be powered entirely through Renewable Energy Credits that confirm electricity generation from renewable sources such as wind, solar, or hydro power.
The funding comes from North Carolina’s $92 million share in a national settlement with Volkswagen over emissions violations (https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/volkswagen-clean-air-act-civil-settlement). After distributing most funds through two previous grant phases, DEQ redirected unspent money from canceled projects into this new opportunity. No additional funds from the Volkswagen Settlement are expected for future distribution.
DEQ used 15%—the maximum allowed under trust guidelines—of its settlement funds for EV infrastructure initiatives. Other grants have supported replacing older vehicles with cleaner alternatives like all-electric school buses and transit buses.
