ATHENS — The Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council has received a grant of a $4,180,045 from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration under the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program.

Funding will support the council’s Southeast to Southwest Ohio Responsive Interregional Deployment of Electrification Solutions project, called R.I.D.E.S., aimed at expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure across Ohio.

The grant will enable the council to install seven DC fast-charging stations within one mile of three designated Alternative Fuel Corridors in Ohio at Interstate 75 in Dayton, Route 33 in Athens and Logan and Interstate 70 in New Concord. The charging infrastructure will cater to medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles and support the electrification of fleet vehicles.

This branch of the council’s R.I.D.E.S. program is categorized as a corridor project by the C Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program.

In January, the council also was awarded $12,545,691 under the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program for a community project plans to add about 50 charging stations, including about 200 Level 2 charging ports and 30 Level 3 DC fast-charging ports, filling critical gaps in the region’s electric vehicle charging network.

The announcement ensures the council is able to support both community and corridor electric vehicle charging infrastructure development, reinforcing Ohio’s leadership in sustainable energy and transportation solutions.

The council was among 51 applicants in 29 states awarded funding and was one of four entities in Ohio including the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and the City of Cincinnati to receive funding totalling $47.5 million, which will continue to advance Ohio’s transition to cleaner transportation.