Union Township in Clermont County, Ohio is seeking a contractor to design and build electric vehicle charging stations, part of a nationwide federal effort to create a coast-to-coast charging network.

The project comes from Ohio's share of $7.5 billion in federal infrastructure funding allocated in 2021 specifically for EV charging. Ohio received about $140 million to build charging corridors, primarily along interstates but increasingly extending to secondary routes like SR-32, which runs through Union Township connecting Cincinnati to Appalachia.

The township of 50,000 residents has no prior experience with EV infrastructure projects. Under federal program rules, chargers must be DC fast chargers capable of at least 150 kilowatts, located within a mile of highway exits, and spaced no more than 50 miles apart along designated corridors.

The federal charging program has faced criticism for slow progress. By late 2024, only seven states had opened stations funded by the program, delayed by manufacturing requirements that components be made in America and ongoing supply chain problems.

The broader federal policy aims to solve a circular problem: drivers won't buy electric vehicles without reliable charging infrastructure, but private companies won't build chargers without enough EVs on the road. The Biden administration set a target of 50% electric vehicle sales by 2030.

Union Township is now accepting qualifications from contractors. Firms selected in this initial screening will be invited to submit detailed proposals for the design-build contract.