Montana and Wyoming will receive millions of dollars each over the next five years to build up electric vehicle infrastructure in both states.
Montana environmental and transportation officials announced this week the state will receive about $43 million in federal funds to construct quick-charging stations for electric vehicles.
The funding is part of the Infrastructure and Jobs Act passed by Congress late last year, which included $7.5 billion for electric vehicle infrastructure. Both the state departments of Transportation and Environmental Quality will administer the funds. The money will cover up to 80% of installation costs for charging stations, with the remaining 20& coming from private entities.
The state Department of Environmental Quality says the funding will build stations along highways federally designated as alternative fuel corridors, including all major interstates in Montana as well as Highway 2 and 93.
Wyoming, meanwhile, will receive about $4 million this year and close to $24 million over the next five years through the infrastructure bill to develop EV charging stations across the state.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation says in preparation for the EV initiative the state has developed a "Net Zero Vehicle Emission Strategy" it will put forward for public input over the coming weeks.