Vermont Housing agency grants $1 million to subsidize EV Chargers at multiunit properties

Vermont’s Department of Housing and Community Development has awarded $1 million in grant funds to subsidize the cost of purchasing and installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at multiunit properties.

The funding is awarded as part of the Multiunit Dwelling Electric Vehicles Supply Equipment (EVSE) Grant Program, which was announced earlier this year by Vermont’s Governor Phil Scott and the housing department to help provide residents of multiunit housing complexes with access to affordable and easy at-home charging facilities.

The program’s pilot run focused on affordable and non-profit multiunit housing providers, and received 16 applications for 44 locations from several applicants, including large and small multiunit housing providers, residential members of condominium associations and even utilities proposing to install EV chargers in residential curbside parking.

The funds will now be used to install 84 new Level 2 charging ports at 37 locations across eight counties, thereby catering to 6,230 homes in affordable multifamily buildings.

“Through the EVSE Grant Program, we are making it easier to install convenient and reliable at-home charging solutions for residents living in affordable multifamily housing,” said Governor Scott. “Steps like this are critical as we work to electrify the transportation sector, make EVs more accessible, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

DHCD Commissioner Josh Hanford said, “This was a pilot program, and we didn’t know what the demand would be.” He added, “The geographic spread of applications and diversity of housing types that applied was impressive and showed us that there is a high level of interest in providing EV charging for multiunit residents statewide which have resulted in additional funds to continue the program.”

Governor Scott approved another $3 million in funding this legislative session to continue the EVSE program.