The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) announced a funding opportunity for DC fast chargers in 16 communities across the state.
More EV chargers for North Dakota
The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be used to distribute around $1.2 million awarded to North Dakota by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)’s Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) Program.
The NOFO will focus on the acquisition, design, and construction of the EV charging infrastructure, which will be privately owned. ATCMTD program funds will pay for up to 50% of the project costs, but operations and maintenance costs aren’t eligible for reimbursement.
DC fast charger projects that receive funding from this program must have a minimum of two 150 kW ports, but applicants are encouraged to submit applications requesting funding for four ports. Applications are due December 16, and decisions will be announced 90 days later.
Each community, listed below, is eligible for one DC fast charging station:
- Williston
- Watford City
- Stanley
- Kenmare
- Minot
- Coleharbor
- Bowman
- Linton
- Ellendale
- Wahpeton
- Grafton
- Devils Lake
- Petersburg
- Carrington
- Harvey
- Rugby
“This funding opportunity helps North Dakota target investment in EV charging infrastructure in communities throughout our state,” said Russ Buchholz, NDDOT project manager. “Installing fast chargers in these communities will help reduce range anxiety for EV drivers, making North Dakota more accessible to both in-state EV drivers and out-of-state tourists.”
The ATCMTD program announcement is separate from the Biden administration’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which awarded the state $25.9 million over five years to install EV chargers along the Alternative Fuel Corridors of I-94 and I-29. NDDOT announced in June that it was taking applications for NEVI EV charger funding.
Electrek’s Take
North Dakota ranks at the bottom among states for both the number of registered EVs and EV chargers. The rather amusing result is a 1:6 ratio of charging ports to registered EVs – there just aren’t many of either thing.
As DC fast chargers multiply in the state, that will likely instill confidence in residents to switch to EVs. Installing 16 community chargers in addition to its NEVI network is a good move for this state, which has historically been an EV laggard. That’s because of range anxiety, extremely cold winters, the state’s robust fossil fuel industry, and politics.
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