Pennsylvania Leads Nation in EV Charger Rollout

Pennsylvania just became the national leader in building electric vehicle charging stations, and small towns are already planning how the new infrastructure will bring visitors to their Main Streets.

Steve Herman sees charging stations as more than just places to plug in a car. "People can let their vehicles sit for a bit and walk the stores downtown and grab food," said Herman, who works with SEDA-COG, an economic development group serving eight central Pennsylvania counties.

The funding comes from a $5 billion federal program that's placing charging stations across America. Pennsylvania is receiving $171 million total, and the state has already built three dozen chargers—more than any other state.

Each station costs about $163,000, but communities see them as investments. Herman spent the past year working with local chambers of commerce to find the best locations, even creating an online map where residents could drop pins suggesting ideal spots.

The approach is working. Pennsylvania burned through one-third of its allocated funds faster than any other state by partnering directly with local gas stations and community groups.

The program started by placing chargers every 50 miles along major highways like the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Pennsylvania was the first state to hit that goal, which unlocked funding for smaller communities in Northeast Pennsylvania, Erie, and the Pittsburgh suburbs.

Now the final round targets downtown areas in places that need them most. Herman surveyed residents and found that while university towns and hospitals already have some chargers, most small towns have none.

Clean transportation experts say this infrastructure is crucial for fighting climate change. Transportation produces more greenhouse gas emissions than any other industry in America, with passenger cars and trucks responsible for over half of those emissions.

"You're not gonna get an EV if you feel nervous about where you're going to charge it," said Alissa Burger, regional policy director at CALSTART, a clean transportation industry group.

The Ripple Effect

The charging stations are creating unexpected opportunities for rural communities. Towns that rarely saw through traffic now have a reason to attract visitors who need 30 minutes to charge their vehicles—just enough time to browse local shops or grab lunch at a downtown restaurant.

Herman's planning approach puts local voices first. His workshops and surveys ensure that chargers go where communities actually want them, not just where officials think they should be.

The program survived recent political turbulence. President Trump tried freezing the funding earlier this year, calling it an "unfair subsidy," but a federal judge ruled the freeze unconstitutional after Pennsylvania and other states sued.

With $100 million still committed to community charging programs, small Pennsylvania towns are preparing to welcome a new kind of visitor—one who stays just long enough to discover what makes each place special.