The Cherokee Nation has received $10.7 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to install 112 publicly accessible electric vehicle charging ports across 12 community locations.
The funding is part of a $2.5 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which aims to add 11,500 EV charging ports across the nation by 2030, the agency announced.
The tribe plans to place charging stations near parks and health centers and ensure the entire reservation is within 25 miles of infrastructure as part of its clean energy goals, a news release stated.
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The Cherokee Nation’s proposed sites for EV charging stations include properties owned by the Cherokee Nation in Ochelata, Jay, South Coffeyville, Nowata, Tahlequah, Stilwell, Grove, Salina, Vinita and Tulsa.
The U.S. Transportation Department’s Federal Highway Administration announced $635 million in grants to continue building out EV charging and alternative fueling infrastructure with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s signature zero-emission refueling infrastructure programs.
Of that total, $368 million went toward 42 community projects aimed at expanding community-based charging infrastructure and $268 million will fund fast-charging stations built along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors, according to a news release.
Grants, which were funded by both the private and public sector, also apply for building out hydrogen fueling infrastructure and contributed to the number of EV stations almost doubling to 206,000 last year, 38,000 of which were created in 2024, the U.S. Transportation Department added.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the investments help support the nation’s EV transition.
“These investments will help states and communities build out a network of EV chargers in the coming years so that one day, finding a charge on a road trip will be as easy as filling up at a gas station,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Transportation Dept. gives Cherokee Nation $10.7 mil for EV chargers