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Axios Tampa Bay
Gas stations push for Florida's federal EV charging funds
By Selene San Felice,
22 days ago
Gas station chains are demanding Florida catch up in spending federal money for electric vehicle chargers.
Why it matters: Florida has stretches nearly 70 miles long — over an hour of driving — without active charging stations, according to ChargePoint .
While other states have opened their first chargers built with National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funds, businesses still can't apply to use the Sunshine State's allotted money.
State of play: The Charge Ahead Partnership, representing gas chains like Wawa, Buc-ee's and Busy Bee, is pressing the state to open applications.
Florida will get $198 million over five years from the NEVI program, created as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law passed in 2021.
Approved businesses get enough money to cover about 80% of the cost of installing EV chargers.
Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Nebraska have yet to open applications for their NEVI funds as well, according to the partnership.
Zoom in: Florida is the largest state that hasn't opened applications and has the most money available. It's also second in the nation in electric vehicle ownership.
The Florida Department of Transportation did not respond to Axios' request for comment on why the process has not started.
Between the lines: The partnership told the Tampa Bay Times that Florida Power and Light has a "stranglehold" on the state's EV charging market making it harder for businesses to compete.
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