SOPEC Awarded Over $4.1 Million Federal Grant to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

ATHENS, OHIO — The Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC) has been awarded a $4,180,045 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration under the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program. This funding will support SOPEC’s Southeast to Southwest Ohio Responsive Interregional Deployment of Electrification Solutions (RIDES) project, aimed at expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across Ohio.

The nearly $4.2 million grant will enable SOPEC to install seven EV DC Fast Charging (DCFC) stations within one mile of three designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) in Ohio, Interstate 75 in Dayton, Route 33 in Athens and Logan, and Interstate 70 in New Concord. The new EV charging infrastructure will cater to medium- and heavy-duty EVs, as well as support the electrification of fleet vehicles. This branch of SOPEC’s RIDES program is categorized as a corridor project by the CFI program.

In January 2024, SOPEC was also awarded $12,545,691 under the CFI program for a community project plans to add about 50 charging stations, including an estimated 200 Level 2 charging ports and 30 Level 3 DCFC charging ports, filling critical gaps in the region’s EV charging network. Today’s announcement ensures that SOPEC is able to support both community and corridor EV charging infrastructure development, reinforcing Ohio’s leadership in sustainable energy and transportation solutions.

SOPEC was one of 51 applicants across 29 states awarded funding by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s CFI Program. SOPEC is one of four entities in Ohio, including the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and the City of Cincinnati, to receive funding totalling $47.5 million, which will continue to advance Ohio’s transition to cleaner transportation.

Together, these programs will bolster the network of EV infrastructure across the nation. SOPEC’s RIDES project is a critical part of this broader effort to ensure the availability of EV charging and alternative fueling options, particularly in underserved areas in Ohio.