Illinois launches $20M program for public EV charging stations
Rebuild Illinois and CEJA-backed funding targets fast-charging infrastructure and equity communities.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) has announced a new $20 million funding opportunity to support the installation of public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the state.
The program, funded through Governor J.B. Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan and authorized under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), will support the purchase and installation of Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC – Level 3) stations and Level 2 charging stations at publicly accessible locations.
This first-come, first-served Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will begin accepting applications on November 17.
“Governor Pritzker has prioritized electrification of the transportation sector to improve air quality and benefit the health of our residents,” said Acting Illinois EPA Director James Jennings. “To support that priority, we are committed to expanding the charging infrastructure necessary to power current and future electric vehicles throughout Illinois.”
Projects will be scored on criteria including project readiness, location in counties that have not previously received Illinois EPA EV funding, distance to existing public charging, and placement at public transportation park-and-ride facilities.
MobilityPlaza´s take
The new Illinois funding lands at a moment when U.S. e-mobility appears to be shifting from hype to groundwork. The slowdown in EV sales in 2025 has coincided with shifting federal policies and a sharp drop in planned EV investments, adding uncertainty to the pace of U.S. electrification. Yet some in the market view this phase less as a setback and more as a potential strategic pause, a window for operators to reinforce infrastructure, streamline permitting and address cybersecurity before the next wave of adoption takes shape.
