Boulder County has been selected to receive $4.9 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to increase public access to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The county sought this funding to support the switch to electric vehicles and reduce carbon pollution.
Boulder Electric Charging Station
U.S. Representative Joe Neguse as well as U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet welcomed the announcement from USDOT. The nearly $5 million in funding comes from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program, which aims to expand public access to alternative vehicle fueling like EV charging across the country. The program is a part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The transportation sector is the biggest source of carbon pollution in Colorado, meaning new infrastructure is a significant step towards achieving Boulder County’s emissions reductions goals, which call for an 80% reduction over 2021 levels by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2035.
The grant will fund public EV charging stations in low and moderate-income neighborhoods, rural areas, and communities with high densities of multifamily units. Funding will support both Fast Chargers, sometimes referred to as Level 3 chargers, which can charge a typical EV to 80% in 30 minutes, and Level 2 chargers, which add roughly 10-20 miles of range per hour of charge.
“Investing in energy saving, effective, and green infrastructure for the long run is vital to tackling the climate crisis and protecting Coloradans,” said U.S. Representative Joe Neguse. “The funding announced today will expand access to charging stations for individuals with electric vehicles, modernize the electric infrastructure across the state, and help create good paying jobs in the process.”
“Boulder County is thrilled to receive this grant, a major step forward in expanding public EV charging infrastructure in underserved areas,” said Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy. “This achievement reflects the strength of our partnerships across municipalities, non-profits, state agencies, and utilities. By prioritizing public EV charging installations in rural, multi-family, and low-income neighborhoods, we’re not just building infrastructure — we’re fostering a community-wide transformation towards a resilient and accessible future.”
Led by Boulder County, the Charge Up Boulder County grant application was a collaborative effort with towns and cities across the county, six non-profits, two state agencies, and three utility companies. The City of Boulder further supported this work through a $100,000 funding match.
Approximately one-third of Boulder County residents live in multi-family homes, where EV charging can be challenging. Alongside other incentives, this targeted expansion of public charging will reduce barriers to EV ownership and cut toxic air pollutants like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and more.
Boulder County has long been a leader in EV adoption. A recent study from the U.S. Department of Energy found that Boulder County has the fifth-highest EV adoption rate of all U.S. counties, and the highest outside of California. With this new funding, Boulder County can ensure even more community members have the opportunity to go electric.