Colleges earn grant for EV chargers, clean energy courses

Twin Counties community college students can learn how to rebuild and repair electric vehicles and install, maintain and operate EV chargers thanks to a state-administered federal transportation grant.

Nash Community College in Rocky Mount and Edgecombe Community College in Tarboro are among 10 institutions benefiting from a $1 million Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Money will be used to install 20 Level 2 EV charging stations at 10 community colleges throughout the state and provide clean vehicle training courses.

“We’re grateful to our federal partners for their continued support of North Carolina’s push for a clean energy economy,” said state Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins. “This grant not only improves access to convenient and reliable EV charging stations so more people will feel comfortable owning an electric vehicle. It also takes an important step to ensure our workforce has the education, knowledge and skills needed to sustain the clean energy transition.”

The N.C. Department of Transportation announced the grant Thursday.

Other campuses included in the rollout are Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Central Carolina Community College in Sanford, Martin Community College in Williamston, Roanoke-Chowan Community College in Ahoskie, Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, Gaston College in Dallas and Randolph Community College in Asheboro.

The $1 million grant, part of the federal bipartisan infrastructure law, advances the USDOT’s effort to develop a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging stations so drivers can charge EVs in areas convenient to where they live or work and close to the state’s major thoroughfares.

Level 2 chargers take between four and eight hours to charge an electric vehicle.

The CFI grant adds to the $109 million North Carolina has already received in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program funds. State officials are using the $109 million in NEVI funds to develop an EV charging network along major highways and in communities.

The post Colleges earn grant for EV chargers, clean energy courses first appeared on Restoration NewsMedia .