SE Valley Times

Mesa is charging ahead with efforts to make driving electric more accessible and convenient for all its residents. The US Department of Transportation, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Laws’ Charging and Fueling (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program, has awarded Mesa $11.8 million to increase public access to electric vehicle charging by adding 48 new vehicle charging ports to areas throughout the City.

“Mesa and Arizona are adopting EVs faster than most of the US, and this investment in our City’s charging network will have a measurable impact,” said Mayor John Giles. “Mesa’s strategic plan to expand its charging network makes having EVs more accessible, directly responding to the growing needs of Mesa residents and businesses. We’re proud to have received one of the largest grants from this program.”

Today, there are at least 49 public EV charging stations with 118 ports in Mesa, serving over 3,200 City residents who drive electric vehicles. CFI grant funds will increase charging ports by 40% by strategically deploying additional public charging options across the City based on needs identified through Mesa’s Community Electric Vehicle Action Plan. Mesa’s enhanced EV changing network envisions three categories of new charging hubs:

Neighborhood Charging focused in and around downtown Mesa to support local businesses and residents.
Fast Charging located in the east part of the City along the U.S. 60 to support longer trips and quicker charges
Public Fleet Charging placed areas in west and east Mesa to serve the general public, and small and medium businesses in these areas that might look to electrify their fleet.

"I'm incredibly proud to have secured this $11.8 million investment, strengthening and diversifying Mesa's electric vehicle charging network - taking another step towards a cleaner, healthier and safer Arizona," said Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema.

“Building more electric vehicle charging stations is key to fueling our booming clean energy economy. Thanks to investments from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Mesa is leading the way—creating good paying jobs and enabling cleaner travel,” said Senator Mark Kelly.

Since adopting its Climate Action Plan in June 2022, Mesa has been committed to proactively addressing climate change by lowering our climate impact, guiding sustainable growth and building a resilient community. To reach the plan’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, Mesa is investing in an EV future. This includes developing a fleet transition plan and a Community Charging EV plan. The City’s forward-thinking efforts have resulted in the recent arrival of Arizona’s first fully electric North American-style fire truck that adds to the 48 Ford Lightning Trucks already in circulation in various City departments.

“Arizona is already a nationwide hub for EV manufacturing. Now, thanks to these funds from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re helping communities like Mesa bring their EV charging networks online,” said U.S. Representative Greg Stanton. “It’ll mean convenience for drivers, lower emissions and even more good-paying clean energy jobs.”

In the coming weeks, City of Mesa staff will be identifying sites for new charging stations within the geographic areas identified in the Community Electric Vehicle Action Plan.

Original source can be found here.