The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced awarding $249 million for a project that invests in medium- and heavy-duty vehicle charging infrastructure on the Interstate-95 freight corridor and adjacent roadways.

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant was made to the Clean Corridor Coalition. Led by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the cohort includes Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland.

The New Jersey-led proposal calls for the installation of more than 24 charging locations with approximately 450 public charging ports. As a result, the infrastructure will help reduce cumulative greenhouse gas emission by an estimated of 19 million tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) through 2050.

The joint venture will also provide technical assistance for workforce development and corridor planning across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. The award is part of a $4.3 billion national grant funding round from the Inflation Reduction Act.

A ‘critical down payment’

“Today’s announcement marks a significant step forward in our efforts to address climate change and promote environmental justice along Interstate 95,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa Garcia. “The nearly $250 million grant to the Clean Corridor Coalition will not only reduce harmful emissions along one of the nation’s busiest freight corridors but will also help create jobs and produce health benefits for every community along I-95.”

“The steps we take today to lower emissions from heavy duty vehicles along New Jersey’s transportation corridors will improve air quality in our communities, while mitigating climate impacts well into the future,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “Building out charging infrastructure along the I-95 corridor is key to advancing those goals.”

Murphy thanked the Biden-Harris administration and the state’s congressional delegation for their efforts in securing the funding.

“[W]hich will help us facilitate New Jersey’s rapid transition to an electric vehicle future, support workforce development, and provide benefits to our overburdened communities,” Murphy added.

“This award of nearly $250 million for truck charging infrastructure is a critical down payment for zero-emission freight movement and will catalyze the deployment of zero-emission freight trucks in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region and beyond,” said NJ Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn LaTourette.