WYDOT Hosts Meetings to Discuss Future of Electric Vehicles

W.Y.D.O.T. will soon have the resources needed to make Wyoming roads and highways more amendable to a future of electric vehicles.

Wyoming will soon receive nearly four million dollars of federal money for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula. The funds will be expressly used to facilitate electric vehicle infrastructure development, especially charging stations, around the state.

The funding is part of the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (I.I.J.A.), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (B.I.L.), signed by President Biden in November 2021.

Wyoming Department of Transportation (W.Y.D.O.T.) is allocating $3.9 million this year. The department expects $5 million each year for the next four years, totaling $23.96 million for E.V. infrastructure.

“These stations will not only be powered by Wyoming energy but will help facilitate tourism around the state,” said Director Luke Reiner. “We want drivers who choose E.V.s to have safe and reliable ways to charge their vehicles as they drive in our state. This has been an inter-agency effort to maximize available resources for our residents and visitors.”

Courtesy Pexels and Rathaphon Nanthapreecha

Wyoming has a noticeable lack of infrastructure for electric vehicles – which means it’s at the top of a national priority list.

Wyoming’s interstates have been designated as “Alternative Fuel Corridors,” and under the NEVI program must have infrastructure installed first. Corridor infrastructure must adhere to the NEVI Program Joint Office guidelines for charger efficiency, location, and accessibility.

Once the interstate corridors are complete, remaining funding can be spent along other vital routes to popular destinations. In the future, charging stations will line the routes to Yellowstone National Park, Devil’s Tower National Monument, and other state hotspots.

Wyoming’s investment is nothing – no state funds will be used to build, maintain or operate E.V. charging infrastructure through the NEVI program. Instead, the company that bids on the corridor will pay the required match amount to the Federal funds.

In addition to the NEVI funding, the B.I.L. outlined $2.5 billion in discretionary grants available to eligible applicants, including state and local governments, special purpose districts, tribes, and other groups or entities. The state also has V.W. settlement funds that will be used to provide additional funding for E.V. infrastructure development in areas not along the alternative fuel corridors.

Nothing can stop the momentum of NEVI construction, but Wyomingites still have the chance to learn and comment on its implementation.

The State of Wyoming has developed a Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy to execute NEVI funding and other program incentives. It will circulate the strategy over the next month to allow the public and interested parties to provide comments and feedback.

In early April, W.Y.D.O.T. and other state officials have scheduled public meetings to gather public input and feedback from potential bidders and other interested parties. Each meeting is expected to have a virtual component so viewers can attend any meeting and see the proposed plan and make comments.

The schedule is as follows:

• Cheyenne
  • Date and time: April 4, 1-3 p.m.
  • Location: W.Y.D.O.T. Auditorium, 5300 Bishop Blvd.
• Casper
  • Date and time: April 5, 9-11 a.m.
  • Location: W.Y. Oil and Gas Commission Hearing Room, 2211 King Blvd.
• Cody
  • Date and time: April 5, 5-7 p.m.
  • Location: Park County Public Library Grizzly Hall, 1500 Heart Mountain St.
• Riverton
  • Date and time: April 6, 1-3 p.m.
  • Location: Riverton City Council Chambers, 816 N. Federal Blvd.
• Jackson
  • Date and time: April 7, 9-11 a.m.
  • Location: Ordway Auditorium, Teton County Library, 125 Virginian Lane
• Rock Springs
  • Date and time: April 7, 5-7 p.m.
  • Location: W.Y.D.O.T. District Office, 3200 Elk St.
• Rawlins
  • Date and time: April 8, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Location: Rawlins Family Recreation Center, 1616 Harshman St.
• Gillette
  • Date and time: April 11, 2-4 p.m.
  • Location: Campbell County Library, 2101 S 4-J Rd.
• Sheridan
  • Date and time: April 12, 10 a.m. – noon
  • Location: Sheridan County Fulmer Library, 335 W Alger St.