Charge Up Dane County Seeking More EV Site Hosts

March 06, 2026
execmedia@danecounty.gov, 608-228-7224
County Executive, County Executive

Dane County Announces Final Opportunity to Apply

 

MADISON, WI – Today, Dane County Executive Melissa Agard announced Dane County has issued a third and final Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify sites for the Charge Up Dane County program. Applications are due on Thursday, April 2 at 2 pm.

 

“Charge Up Dane County is a great example of how the County partners with public and private entities to make clean energy solutions affordable for everyone,” said County Executive Melissa Agard. “Dane County is already a leader in EV adoption and this program will help expand access by making EV charging infrastructure more affordable.”

 

With about 10% of Wisconsin’s population, Dane County is home to about 25% of EVs registered in the state.

 

In Fall 2024, the Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change and its partners received a $13.2 million federal grant for Charge Up Dane County, an effort to ensure access to electric vehicle charging across the county by filling gaps associated with multi-family neighborhoods, rural areas, and multi-modal transportation hubs.

 

To date, the program has received applications from dozens of public and private entities interested in hosting EV charging stations. More than 50 locations are moving through the design process right now and the program has room for up to 20 more locations.

 

“Our aim is to install affordable EV charging in up to 70 locations across Dane County,” said Kathy Kuntz, Director of OECC. “Entities can use the interactive map on our website to determine if their site is a good location for charging infrastructure.”

 

The grant is focused on slower-speed charging, similar to what homeowners can access in their private garages. That charging (termed Level 2 in the industry) is typically the most affordable charging with a cost of about $0.06/mile of fuel, compared to $0.10 to $0.15/mile for a gas-powered vehicle.

 

The Charge Up Dane County grant covers the cost of the EV charging station design and construction, including both hardware and software, as well as five years of maintenance on the site. The grant makes it easier for entities to consider hosting affordable public EV charging in their parking lots. Expanded affordable charging will make EVs, especially used EVs, more viable for renters across the region.

 

Entities can learn more at https://daneclimateaction.org/initiatives/Charge-Up-Dane-Co. The website includes a link to the RFP and other resources including webinar recordings.