Illinois opens first NEVI-funded charging station and awards $23.5 million for 29 new projects
By Eve
The Illinois Department of Transportation cut the ribbon on 22 July 2026 on the state's first charging station built through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, a four-port DC fast-charging site in Casey funded by an $854,641 grant to Phillips 66, Meyer Oil and Electrify America. IDOT simultaneously announced $23.5 million in Round 3 NEVI awards for 29 additional projects along interstate corridors, with more stations expected online this summer.
Why it matters: The Casey opening marks Illinois's first delivery under the federal NEVI programme, signalling procurement momentum for CPOs and contractors bidding on the 29 newly funded sites. The Phillips 66 partnership model and sub-$1 million grant size offer a template for future interstate corridor builds in the state.