Congresswoman Summer Lee and County Executive Sara Innamorato Secure $4.1 Million for EV Charging Expansion in Allegheny County, Strengthening Local Infrastructure
**For Immediate Release**
Kyla Gill, Kyla.Gill@mail.house.gov
Vaibhav Vijay, Vaibhav.Vijay@mail.house.gov
Congresswoman Summer Lee and County Executive Sara Innamorato Secure $4.1 Million for EV Charging Expansion in Allegheny County, Strengthening Local Infrastructure
WASHINGTON D.C. – JANUARY 9TH, 2025 — Today, Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12) and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato announced that Allegheny County has been awarded a $4,051,374 grant from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program to support the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the region. This funding will help install 150 new EV charging ports across Allegheny County, enhancing accessibility to clean energy transportation for more than 1.2 million residents and visitors. Additionally, Duquesne Light is contributing $2 million toward the design, engineering, and installation of the electrical infrastructure, bringing the total investment in this project to $6 million and further strengthening this vital initiative.
“I am proud to announce that Allegheny County has received this much-needed funding to expand EV charging infrastructure,” said Congresswoman Lee. “This grant will help accelerate the transition to clean energy and promote sustainable transportation across our region. Not only will it improve access to EV charging stations for residents, but it will also create critical infrastructure to support the growing number of electric vehicles on the road. This is an investment in our future, in cleaner air, and in the economic growth of our communities, and I’m excited that my team and I were able to help get this one over the finish line.”
Congresswoman Lee and her team were instrumental in securing the grant, having written a letter of support on behalf of the project, urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to approve the application. The letter highlighted the importance of the project to Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District, emphasizing the need for greater EV infrastructure to support both local residents and visitors.
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said: “Allegheny County is the lead applicant on this very important grant and I’m so pleased that we were able to submit it in partnership with 20 other regional leaders from the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Thank you to Congresswoman Lee for her efforts in helping secure the funding for this much needed expansion of 150 EV charging stations. Investing in clean energy infrastructure, creating jobs, and supporting a shift to greener modes of transportation is a win for the people of Allegheny County and I’m thrilled that we are making this investment together.”
In addition to the $4.1 million grant, Allegheny County is collaborating with partners like Duquesne Light, Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities and Communities, the City of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Parking Authority, Allegheny County Airport Authority, and 14 municipalities. Duquesne Light is contributing nearly $2 million towards the design, engineering, and installation of all electrical infrastructure required for the charging stations, bringing the total of the project to over $6M. Duquesne Light will also own the electrical infrastructure for a ten-year period, after which the respective municipalities or authorities will take ownership.
The new EV chargers will provide essential access to clean transportation options for residents, businesses, airports, and visitors, contributing to both environmental sustainability and economic growth.
This investment is part of Congresswoman Lee’s continued commitment to ensuring that Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District is at the forefront of clean energy initiatives. With this nearly $4.1M grant, our region is one step closer to building a cleaner, greener future.
Full Text from Letter of Support sent by Congresswoman Summer Lee:
September 5, 2024
Shailen Bhatt, Administrator
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Re: Connecting and Electrifying Allegheny Communities through Charging
Dear Administrator Bhatt,
On behalf of the more than 750,000 constituents of Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District, I am writing to express my support for Allegheny County’s application to the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI). The “Connecting and Electrifying Allegheny Communities through Charging” proposal, will install public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout communities in Allegheny and Beaver Counties.
Allegheny County has strategically partnered with over 20 partners to install publicly accessible level 2 EV chargers on public property throughout Allegheny and Beaver Counties. Partners include key players in the region to ensure accessibility and impact across both counties; CONNECT, Duquesne Light, Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities, Pittsburgh Parking Authority, Allegheny County Airport Authority, City of Pittsburgh, and 14 additional municipalities. While I am particularly interested in the inclusion of the charging stations across Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District, I am also excited about the opportunity for our entire region.
This award would amplify the impact of existing federal investment in southwest Pennsylvania by providing the needed resources to expand the EV charging network across two of Pennsylvania’s congressional districts. Providing electric vehicle charging stations is a crucial public asset that will enhance connectivity for residents and visitors to our communities, airports, parks, workplaces, and business districts, thereby supporting our local economy.
I am proud to be part of this collaborative regional initiative to bring much-needed, affordable charging opportunities to my district. I respectfully request that you give their application your full and fair consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Congresswoman Summer L. Lee
Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District
Since taking office in January 2023, Lee, who serves on the House Oversight Committee and Space, Science and Technology Committee, has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs. Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 2,800 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.