Settlement Funding Helps NC Co-op Members Drive Electric

A map of all EV chargers in the NC Electric Cooperative network. Chargers funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s settlement with Volkswagen are marked with a yellow pin.

Eight of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives recently were awarded a total of more than $700,000 in funding by the NC Department of Environmental Quality to install 10 high-speed electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in rural and suburban communities throughout the state.

Funding for these projects comes from the first phase of $30 million available through the state’s $92 million share of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s settlement with Volkswagen for unlawfully falsifying vehicle emissions.

Over the past year, electric co-ops have been building out an EV charging network across the state, which currently includes nearly 60 Level 2 and DC Fast charging stations located in communities from the mountains to the coast. The 10 newly funded DC Fast charging stations will fill critical charging gaps along interstates and highways.

"These projects ... promote education, commerce, tourism, economic development and improved quality of life in our communities."

“These projects encourage not only the environmental and cost savings benefits of electric transportation, but also promote education, commerce, tourism, economic development and improved quality of life in our communities,” said Diane Huis, senior vice president of innovation and business development for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

Additional settlement funding through a partnership with the NC Department of Public Instruction will provide $277,000 for an all-electric school bus. The new bus will serve a route in southwestern Randolph County, with Randolph EMC providing related electrical infrastructure and NCEMC providing a DC Fast charger for the bus on the campus of Southwestern Randolph Middle School.

Visit ncdriveelectric.com for more information on these projects and what benefits your local electric co-op offers EV drivers.