On July 17, 2024, Rhode Island became the first state to reach “Fully Built-Out” Status and complete Phase 1 under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. Through a coordinated effort led by the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the state opened NEVI stations at two Park-and-Ride locations along Interstate 95 (I-95). With the opening of these two site locations, the Federal Highway Administration, in conjunction with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, has certified Rhode Island’s designated I-95 Alternative Fuel Corridor as fully built-out satisfying the NEVI power, location, and customer experience requirements. This milestone was marked with a ribbon-cutting event in Warwick, RI, with Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the RI Division of Federal Highway Administration, and representatives from the U.S. Department of Transportation and Joint Office of Energy and Transportation in attendance.
“NEVI Phase 1 is a significant step toward achieving our transportation emission reduction efforts in advancing our Act on Climate objectives,” noted Acting OER Commissioner Chris Kearns. “OER is now looking to move forward to Phase 2 of the NEVI program to deploy additional charging stations on both public and private parking lots to continue to advance the increase in electric vehicle adoption in Rhode Island.”
Having achieved fully built-out status, the state will move forward with Phase 2 of the NEVI program. Phase 2 allows Rhode Island the flexibility to invest more than $22 million in remaining NEVI funds to expand EV charging infrastructure along public roads and other accessible locations. To better inform where these investments will be made, Rhode Island conducted a survey to seek input from various stakeholders including the public, municipalities, local businesses, EV manufacturers, suppliers, etc. The survey results will help identify priority locations for EV charging infrastructure in communities and along major roadways to serve current and future EV drivers in the state.
To learn more about Rhode Island’s NEVI Program please visit: https://energy.ri.gov/rinevi