Western Wisconsin Municipalities Receive EV Infrastructure Funding

A number of Western Wisconsin municipalities will receive state funding to expand their electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced $25 million in grant funding to support projects aimed at expanding the state's electric vehicle infrastructure this week. According to a press release, Wisconsin was awarded nearly $79 million in funding through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program in 2021.

About $62 million of that funding has already been used to support 120 projects across the state, adding electric vehicle charging stations at gas stations, hotels, and grocery stores near heavily traveled highway corridors. Chippewa Falls and Menomonie were among the first municipalities to receive portions of that funding, opening new electric vehicle charging stations in December of 2024.

Eau Claire was among the municipalities to be awarded a portion of this round of grant funding, receiving over $450,000 to build electric vehicle charging stations at a Dairy Queen near Wisconsin Highway 93. A number of other Western Wisconsin municipalities will also receive significant funding awards, including a combined nearly $2 million for projects in Ellsworth, River Falls, Turtle Lake, and Hayward.

Department of Transportation officials say they believe one of the main reasons electric vehicles are less popular in Wisconsin is the lack of accessible charging stations in more rural parts of the state. The goal of the grant funding is to expand that electric vehicle infrastructure, making it convenient enough to encourage residents to choose an electric vehicle over a standard gas vehicle. According to the press release, Wisconsin also recently reached a significant milestone in pursuit of that goal, opening electric vehicle charging stations at every 50 mile mark along key interstates and highways.