MnDOT announces second round of funds for new EV charging stations, including 1 in Albert Lea
Apr. 29—The Minnesota Department of Transportation on Tuesday announced 12 future locations of new electric vehicle charging stations along interstates 90 and 94 from nearly $10 million in state and federal funding through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which was part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress in 2021.
While the federal NEVI program was recently suspended and its future is uncertain, MnDOT secured $4.5 million for this second round of funds and will provide another $4.7 million in state funding to total $10 million. This funding supports MnDOT's mission to build an EV charging network statewide, especially along important travel and business corridors. An initial round of funding awards was announced in July 2024.
"MnDOT remains committed to continuing our work to deliver a high-quality transportation system that meets the needs of Minnesotans. Building an EV charging infrastructure provides greater access to a fast-charging network and continues our progress toward our goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. "While we were disappointed to learn the Trump Administration has chosen to suspend this program, this second round of grants demonstrate we are honoring our commitments and continue to evaluate all options for continuing this important work."
Locations selected:
* Kwik Trip — Albert Lea
* Kwik Trip — Austin
* Kwik Trip — Stewartville
* Love's Travel Stops — St. Charles
* Energy Hunters Minnesota — Barnesville
* Francis Energy Charging — Fergus Falls
* Love's Travel Stops — Rockville
* Kwik Trip — Lake Elmo
* Francis Energy Charging — Luverne
* Kwik Trip — Worthington
* Francis Energy Charging — Jackson
* Francis Energy Charging — Blue Earth
The new 12 EV charging station locations, and previously announced 12 sites, were selected because they met the following requirements:
* Located no more than 50 miles apart along the Alternative Fuel Corridor
* Located less than one mile driving distance from an interstate exit
* Have a minimum of four 150 kW charging ports able to operate simultaneously
* Are open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week with no entry fee to access the chargers
You can find EV charging stations statewide on MnDOT's 511 traveler information website and mobile app by clicking on the EV Charging Stations layer. You can also visit MnDOT's electric vehicle planning website to stay updated on this work and our NEVI website has additional details about the funding.
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