Nebraska gets $30 million to install charging stations for electric vehicles

LINCOLN — Charging stations for electric vehicles will soon be going up along Interstate 80 and two highways in the Omaha area.

Nebraska was recently approved for $6 million a year over five years in federal funding over the next five years. The state can also compete for more funding as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program.

Funding comes from the infrastructure bill, proposed by President Joe Biden and approved in November by Congress, which makes nearly $7.5 billion available for electric charging stations.

According to the Nebraska Department of Transportation, the first installations, with four rapid-charging stations each, will be in the next year along I-80 in Omaha, Kearney, Gothenburg, York, Kimball, Sidney and Big Springs, and along Nebraska Highway 31 and U.S. Highway 6 in the Omaha area.

The charging stations will be installed at publicly accessible businesses. The goal is to create alternative fuel corridors across the state, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

“These funds will allow us to move forward with plans to make EV charging stations available to Nebraskans across the state,” said NDOT Director John Selmer.