RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Transportation and its partners have hit several major milestones in the year since the agency released the North Carolina
Clean Transportation Plan.
The Clean Transportation Plan, released on April 6, 2023, outlined a roadmap to continue growing the state’s clean energy economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and investing in cleaner and more accessible transportation options for all North Carolinians.
“We’re working hard to ensure North Carolina citizens can take full advantage of the transition to a clean energy economy and the financial opportunities it brings for every day families,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “We have surpassed our initial goal of new zero-emission vehicle registrations and continue to invest in charging infrastructure across the state, particularly in economically disadvantaged communities. North Carolina is the clean energy epicenter of the world and we’ll continue to lead the transition to our clean energy future.”
NCDOT and many stakeholders have accomplished a great deal in the past year, including:
- Sponsoring public engagement events like the Sustainable Fleet Conference and alternative vehicle ride-and-drive events to encourage electric vehicle adoption. Outlined in Executive Order 80, the state’s original goal was 80,000 zero-emission vehicles registered by 2025. As of today, the state has over 87,000 registered zero-emission vehicles, meeting the original goal over two years early.
- Preparing a request for proposals for businesses interested in applying for federal funds available to construct and operate the first round of electric vehicle charging stations along interstates and major highways. NCDOT plans to release the RFP April 8. The RFP will cover only the first batch of electric vehicle charging stations funded through North Carolina’s $109 million share of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program funds. Businesses will have more opportunities to apply for NEVI funds as the state continues to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure along major highways and in communities.
- Completing a comprehensive Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Reduction Study and updating the VMT Reduction Toolkit. The study and toolkit outline North Carolina’s VMT trends and provides strategies to reduce vehicle miles traveled.
- Securing funding to build public charging stations at NCDOT facilities to support the future electrification of NCDOT’s fleet.
- Hiring a dedicated clean transportation lead staff member devoted to coordinating with external stakeholders to implement the Clean Transportation Plan.
- Working with utilities and other service providers, such as Duke Energy, to ensure grid readiness for large expansions of charging.
- Continuing investment in multimodal transportation solutions across the state with grant funding including the S-Line $1.09 billion passenger rail grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin connecting Raleigh and Richmond, V.A., and
- Securing funding for the Ecusta Trail grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation. When the trail is complete, cyclists and pedestrians will have a safer alternative to traveling winding mountain roads.
“The steps we have taken so far show our commitment to advancing clean transportation in North Carolina,” said Joey Hopkins, NCDOT Secretary. “We’re faced with changes in transportation most of us have never seen, but North Carolina is taking the right steps so we’re ready for what the future will bring.”
In the coming years, NCDOT plans to:
- Continue working with the public and stakeholders on ways to reduce transportation-related pollution through education and outreach;
- Pursue new federal funding opportunities to build a more robust and equitable multimodal transportation system.
- Develop and implement strategies to increase state funding for clean transportation activities and projects that reduce emissions;
- Expand the capacity and resources of the Clean Transportation Team.
- Continue expanding North Carolina’s multimodal transportation network to provide more travel options for residents and increase access and mobility for underserved populations;
- Explore options to reduce emissions from construction materials and other activities related to the construction of transportation infrastructure;
- Recommend the implementation of various transportation demand management and vehicle miles traveled reduction strategies to increase the efficiency of the transportation network.
Learn more about NCDOT’s environmental and clean transportation goals by visiting the
Climate Change & Clean Energy website.