NEW JERSEY – On Monday July 22, the Biden-Harris Administration announced recipients of over $4.3 billion in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants to implement community-driven solutions that tackle the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate America’s clean energy transition. New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and Maryland were announced as recipients for $249 million in federal funding for the Clean Corridor Coalition, a project to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure for commercial zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles on the Interstate-95 freight corridor and adjacent roadways.

“The steps we take today to lower emissions from heavy duty vehicles along New Jersey’s transportation corridors will improve air quality in our communities, while mitigating climate impacts well into the future,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Building out charging infrastructure along the I-95 corridor is key to advancing those goals. We are thankful to the Biden-Harris Administration and the members of our congressional delegation who supported the Inflation Reduction Act for this important funding which will help us facilitate New Jersey’s rapid transition to an electric vehicle future, support workforce development, and provide benefits to our overburdened communities.”

"Building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future isn't just the right thing to do for our planet -- it's also the right thing to do for our people," said Governor Moore. "This new federal investment will help us create jobs, cut emissions, and build new pathways to prosperity for all. Maryland is grateful for the support of our partners in the Biden-Harris Administration and along the eastern seaboard. Together, we will make sure that the transition to clean energy leaves no one behind."

“Connecticut’s freight corridor from New York to the Massachusetts border along I-95 to I-91 to I-84 is vital to our regional economy,” said Governor Ned Lamont. “It also runs through the heart of many of our largest cities, where higher levels of diesel emissions contribute to higher rates of asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration, America’s clean energy transition is underway. This Clean Corridor will improve the health and quality of life for the families in these communities by reducing diesel pollution, fighting climate change, and keeping our economy running smoothly. I thank New Jersey for leading this coalition and Maryland and Delaware for their collaboration. Regional collaboration is what made this historic investment of EPA CPRG funding possible.” 

“Delaware is working to transition to a clean energy future to reduce pollution and take on climate change. Addressing transportation emissions, which is a major portion of the air pollution in Delaware, is a critical part of that effort,” said Governor John Carney. “These federal resources to make charging available to larger commercial vehicles travelling I-95 will help make the air cleaner for communities in Delaware. I am proud of our partnership with our neighbor states, and I’m thankful to President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the congressional delegation for the infrastructure funding that continues to make a difference for Delawareans.”

“On July 25th’s announcement marks a significant step forward in our efforts to address climate change and promote environmental justice along Interstate 95,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “The nearly $250 million grant to the Clean Corridor Coalition will not only reduce harmful emissions along one of the nation’s busiest freight corridors but will also help create jobs and produce health benefits for every community along I-95.” 

The New Jersey-led proposal is expected to install over 24 charging locations with approximately 450 public charging ports, resulting in an estimated cumulative greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction of 19 million tons CO2e through 2050.

The joint venture amongst the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Delaware Department of Transportation, and Maryland Departments of the Environment and Transportation will also provide technical assistance for workforce development and corridor planning across the northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. Technical assistance will be provided to host sites seeking to install charging infrastructure to support cost-effective and successful development. Additionally, the Coalition will deliver on substantial community benefits to directly mitigate diesel emissions in 456 low-income and disadvantages communities, 259 of which are classified by EPA as being at or above the 90th percentile of Traffic Proximity per the EJScreen mapping tool, and to support job opportunities in I-95 neighboring communities.

“We thank the Biden-Harris Administration and our federal partners at the EPA for supporting the Murphy Administration’s commitment to a zero-emissions future that combats climate change and protects public health,” said New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette. “This award of nearly $250 million for truck charging infrastructure is a critical down payment for zero-emission freight movement and will catalyze the deployment of zero-emission freight trucks in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region and beyond.”

“Electrification of freight transport is essential to improving public health and protecting communities from the impacts of climate change in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states,” said Kate Zyla, executive director of the Georgetown Climate Center. “By building the foundation for a regional charging network for zero-emission freight-hauling trucks, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, and Maryland are continuing to lead the way in tackling climate change and one of the biggest sources of the pollution that causes it. The Georgetown Climate Center is proud to have supported the team that prepared this proposal, which will invest $249 million in zero-emission vehicle charging infrastructure for medium and heavy-duty freight trucks along the I-95 corridor and adjacent roads, and we look forward to continued work with these states and partners in the region to help implement this transformative investment.”

Fossil-fueled freight vehicles account for just 5 percent of vehicle-miles-traveled in the United States but are responsible for 20 percent of the transportation sector’s GHG emissions. Transitioning medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to zero-emission is necessary to achieve state and national emissions reduction targets, since transportation is the biggest source of climate pollution in Coalition states. The current lack of public charging facilities for freight vehicles is a crucial barrier that this funding seeks to address.

For more information about the Clean Corridor Coalition project and other awards, click here.
ion project and other awards, click here.