The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Delaware have announced a $14.3 million grant from the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program, aimed at enhancing charging infrastructure for medium and heavy-duty vehicles along the I-95 corridor. This initiative aligns with the Clean Corridor Coalition's regional efforts to support zero-emission vehicle infrastructure.
The announcement took place at the I-95 Biden Welcome Center, attended by prominent figures including Senator Tom Carper, Delaware Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski, Joseph Goffman from the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, Adam Ortiz, EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator, and Maryland Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Samantha Biddle.
“Air pollution is bad for our health, bad for our economy, and bad for our planet,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. He emphasized that transportation is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., highlighting investments made through recent legislation to address climate pollution.
Joseph Goffman noted that investments via the CPRG program would significantly impact communities nationwide in combating climate change. Adam Ortiz described the project as "a critical down payment for zero-emission freight movement," outlining plans to construct 20 electric charging sites with over 450 ports along a key freight corridor.
Delaware Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski expressed enthusiasm about reducing pollution and supporting the freight industry through this initiative.
The Clean Corridor Coalition involves Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware working together on this quarter-billion-dollar project to reduce emissions by deploying electric vehicle charging infrastructure along I-95. The coalition will also provide technical assistance and workforce training to support this transition.
The CPRG program underpins these efforts with nearly $5 billion in grants authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act to help states reduce greenhouse gas emissions while benefiting disadvantaged communities.
