FAYETTE COUNTY, Ohio — It is no secret to locals in Fayette County that Jefferson Township is booming with business growth. The recent announcement of several factories and distribution centers building in the township, along with numerous other expansions has the county’s second largest township on the map for more development ahead.
Governor Mike DeWine announced on Thursday that Jefferson Township will be part of a pioneering plan for Ohio as 27 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are to be placed along various highways throughout Ohio. The Buckeye State will become the first in the nation to take such an initiative under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program and will once again place Jefferson Township on the map for another growth milestone.
Jefferson Township’s Flying J Truck Stop on Route 41 at Interstate 71 will house one of these state-of-the-art EV charging stations, with an installation cost of $663,535.
The announcement was made during a news conference on Thursday, joined by Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Jack Marchbanks, DriveOhio Executive Director Preeti Choudhary, and Federal Highway Administration Deputy Administrator Andrew Rogers.
“This is an exciting time for Ohio as we continue to lead the charge in electric mobility,” said Governor DeWine. “This statewide network of chargers will ensure that our transportation infrastructure is prepared to accommodate the growing number of EV drivers as well as visitors who travel to Ohio to see all that our great state has to offer.”
These EV fast-charging stations are set to be installed along seven of Ohio’s interstate corridors, including I-70, I-71, I-74, I-75, I-76, I-77, and I-90. The state has allocated more than $18 million in NEVI funds for the project.
Currently, Ohio boasts approximately 53,000 registered electric vehicles, a number that’s expected to surge significantly in the coming years. This expectation is in line with national trends. According to the Edison Electric Institute, the U.S. saw an impressive 23% uptick in electric vehicle sales in 2022. Furthermore, the U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts a steady increase in EV sales over the next few years, reaching 1.5 million annually by 2025.