MARINETTE – Three convenience-store locations in Marinette County are gearing up for electric-vehicle charging stations paid for in part with federal funds.
They include Kwik Trip locations at 2103 Hall Ave. in Marinette and 212 S. US Highway 141 in Crivitz and an Exxon location at the intersection of US-141 and State Highway 180 in Wausaukee. Together, the three locations were awarded a total of $1.2 million in federal dollars made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
The Kwik Trip in Marinette was awarded about $303,000 in federal funds with a match-share of about $210,600, while the Kwik Trip in Crivitz was awarded about $380,000 with a match-share of about $133,500, according to a news announcement. The Exxon in Wausaukee was awarded about $527,700 with a match-share of $237,100. The Crivitz Kwik Trip location isn’t far from the conservancy subdivision and multifamily area being developed in the village.
The Marinette County locations are among 53 EV charging stations being built in Wisconsin through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (NEVI), which aims to build a trail of EV-charging stations near interstate highways.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is managing the Wisconsin version of NEVI, called WEVI. Wisconsin Act 121 made available over $78 million in funds for fast-charging EV charging stations to be constructed in the next five years, according to a news announcement from Gov. Tony Evers’ office. Evers signed Act 121 in March 2024.
A NEVI grant program received over 260 applications from convenience stores and fueling stations last year, and WisDOT awarded $23.3 million to 53 locations, with another $10.5 million, or 20% of the project costs, required from applicants, according to a news release. WisDOT is expected to award the remaining $55 million for EV infrastructure projects across Wisconsin within five years.
“EVs are a part of the future of transportation, so we are prioritizing resources to make this sustainable option more accessible in our state,” said WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson in a statement last year. “This is a robust plan that will support people no matter where they live or travel in Wisconsin. We’re looking forward to a time when EV drivers don’t have to worry about where to find their next charge.”
The first Wisconsin locations in the program opened in December at Kwik Trip locations in Menomonie, Ashland and Chippewa Falls, according to a news announcement.
More charging-stations are expected to be needed as the number of EVs on the road increases. According to projections based on DMV registration reports and other information, over 23,000 EVs were projected to be on Wisconsin roads in 2024, with the number of EV registrations climbing to 217,000 in 2027 and 553,700 in 2035.
If the growth were to continue as projected, an estimated 1.9 million EVs would be registered in Wisconsin in 2050, representing 31% of all vehicle registrations in the state, according to information from IHS Markit National and other sources.
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