Grand Canyon Times

Mesa, Arizona has received a significant boost in its efforts to promote electric vehicle (EV) usage with a generous grant of $11.8 million from the US Department of Transportation. This funding, provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Laws’ Charging and Fueling (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program, will enable Mesa to enhance its public electric vehicle charging network by adding 48 new charging ports across the city.

Mayor John Giles expressed his excitement about the investment, stating, "Mesa and Arizona are adopting EVs faster than most of the US, and this investment in our City’s charging network will have a measurable impact. Mesa’s strategic plan to expand its charging network makes having EVs more accessible, directly responding to the growing needs of Mesa residents and businesses. We’re proud to have received one of the largest grants from this program."

Currently, Mesa boasts 49 public EV charging stations with 118 ports, serving over 3,200 residents who drive electric vehicles. With the CFI grant funds, the number of charging ports will increase by 40%, strategically deployed across the city based on the needs identified through Mesa’s Community Electric Vehicle Action Plan.

To ensure maximum accessibility, Mesa's enhanced EV charging network will consist of three categories of new charging hubs. The first category is Neighborhood Charging, which will be focused in and around downtown Mesa to support local businesses and residents. The second category is Fast Charging, located in the eastern part of the city along the U.S. 60, to cater to longer trips and enable quicker charges. Lastly, Public Fleet Charging will be placed in areas in west and east Mesa to serve the general public and small to medium businesses considering electrifying their fleets.

Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema expressed her pride in securing the $11.8 million investment, stating, "I'm incredibly proud to have secured this $11.8 million investment, strengthening and diversifying Mesa's electric vehicle charging network - taking another step towards a cleaner, healthier, and safer Arizona." Senator Mark Kelly also commended the initiative, emphasizing the importance of building more electric vehicle charging stations to fuel the clean energy economy.

The funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will not only support Mesa in expanding its charging network but also contribute to the creation of good-paying jobs and lower emissions. U.S. Representative Greg Stanton highlighted the positive impact of these investments, stating, "Arizona is already a nationwide hub for EV manufacturing. Now, thanks to these funds from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re helping communities like Mesa bring their EV charging networks online. It’ll mean convenience for drivers, lower emissions, and even more good-paying clean energy jobs."

Mesa's commitment to addressing climate change and fostering sustainable growth has been evident since the adoption of its Climate Action Plan in June 2022. The city aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and has been actively investing in an EV future. This includes the development of a fleet transition plan and a Community Charging EV plan. As a testament to their forward-thinking efforts, Mesa recently welcomed Arizona's first fully electric North American-style fire truck, adding to the 48 Ford Lightning Trucks already in use across various city departments.

In the coming weeks, the City of Mesa staff will identify suitable sites for new charging stations within the areas specified in the Community Electric Vehicle Action Plan. This expansion of the public electric vehicle charging network will undoubtedly contribute to Mesa's vision of a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable community.