Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection grants and American Rescue Plan Act funds were used to lease 10 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EVs and build electric vehicle charging stations.
SCRANTON, PA. – Members of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) joined Scranton officials as they unveiled the City’s new electric vehicle fleet on Thursday. Vehicles are on lease and will be used exclusively by the Code Enforcement Office. The five-year leases for the 10 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EVs were funded through a PA DEP grant and a portion of the City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) award.
“Scranton gained its nickname, the Electric City, as the home of the first electric trolley lines,” Mayor Paige G. Cognetti said at Nay Aug Park, 500 Arthur Ave., Scranton. “Today feels like the first step in transforming Scranton into the Electric Vehicle City. By making smart investments in environmentally friendly practices, we can address climate change issues right here in northeast Pennsylvania.”
“The Shapiro Administration is committed to growing the Commonwealth’s economy while protecting Pennsylvanians’ constitutional right to clean air and pure water,” added Pennsylvania DEP Acting Secretary Rich Negrin. “Scranton is among a growing number of municipalities in Pennsylvania that want to lower their transportation emissions. We’re excited for the Electric City and pleased to support their transportation electrification goals to improve air quality, address climate change, and increase the use of renewable energy.”
In April 2022, then-Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced the City’s receipt of $75,000 for its electric vehicle fleet and $45,642 for vehicle charging stations from DEP’s Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program.
In a spending plan approved by City Council in May 2022, the City allocated $225,052 and $45,000 in ARPA funds to support the electric vehicles and charging stations, respectively. Charging stations will be installed in the parking garage at the intersection of Linden Street and North Washington Avenue. Plans to continue providing public access to the stations during the day and for the recharging of City vehicles overnight are being developed.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, all-electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt have significant emissions benefits over conventional vehicles, producing zero tailpipe emissions.
Northeast Pennsylvania’s greatest concentration of alternative fueling stations already exists in Scranton, according to the Department of Energy’s maps. Charging stations are in place in the City’s Linden, Connell, Casey, and Medallion garages, but the pending addition of 10 new charging stations will improve accessibility for environmentally conscious drivers who work and shop in Scranton’s downtown.
Developing sustainable infrastructure in support of climate change mitigation and adaptation is one of the core infrastructure goals of Mayor Cognetti’s strategic development plan.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) OF 2021: ARPA is a $1.9 trillion federal economic stimulus bill. The City of Scranton has been awarded $68.7 million in ARPA funds to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its economic impacts. The mission of Scranton’s ARPA program is to give people access to resources, rebuild the infrastructure systems that impact their everyday lives, and foster equitable wealth generation that targets the needs of Scranton residents. More information about Scranton’s ARPA plan is online at scrantonpa.gov/arpa.
Scranton Unveils Fleet of Electric Vehicles | Press Release
Last modified: August 2, 2023
