The aim of Charge Up Dane County is to fill gaps in EV charging infrastructure so that everyone can access affordable EV charging.
Key to this effort is identifying sites where we can install the grant-funded EV charging infrastructure. This page details our efforts to identify and vet potential sites for EV charging stations.
We identify site hosts via a simple Request for Proposals (RFP) process. A third and final RFP closed on April 2, 2026. We are now in the process of vetting those Round 3 sites.
This map illustrates the areas with multi-family housing, rural parts of the county and areas identified as low income (and thus likely underserved by existing EV charging). The map also shows existing public charging (both Level 2 and Level 3) and it shows the locations of Charge Up Dane County Round 1 and Round 2 site locations that are moving forward.
We will add Round 3 sites to this map once those sites have been vetted.
Interested site hosts are required to register as vendors at the County's eProcurement Portal.
Learn more about the County's procurement process here.
Refer to this User's Guide for details on setting up a vendor account.
If you want to submit multiple applications (which is perfectly fine) then you will need to create multiple vendor accounts as there's a limit of one application per vendor account.
Our priorities are locations that fit at least one of the following criteria:
Requirements for site hosts include:
All of the requirements are detailed in the Site Host Agreement, which is Attachment A in the RFP.
Additionally, we've created an FAQ for site hosts, available here.
Entities should consider applying to be a site host because there are multiple benefits including:
Charge Up Dane County aims to fill the gaps in the existing charging network, to offer affordable charging in areas where the private market is unlikely to offer that charging.
Our focus is on Level 2 charging, not fast charging. Other entities are already filling the fast-charging gaps in the County.
Compared to fast chargers, Level 2 chargers will have a nominal impact on an entity's electric bill. Our aim is to set charging fees so that the site host recovers all electricity costs as well as the State of Wisconsin EV excise tax and any associated handling fees.
During 2025 we conducted two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for site hosts. Both public and private entities were eligible to apply to be site hosts as long as they agreed to the terms of our federal grant.
In Round 1, which closed in June 2025, we received 57 applications and of those, 51 met at least one of our priorities (multi-family area, rural or multi-modal). We moved all 51 sites forward to a desktop review then a site visit and, if the site seemed viable, to preliminary design, cost estimates and the required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) paperwork. Ultimately we completed paperwork on 31 of those 51 initial sites with a few others put on hold for Round 2. As of March 26, 2026 FHWA-WI officials have approved the NEPA paperwork on those first 31 sites.
In Round 2, which closed in September 2025, we received 21 applications and of those 20 met at least one of our priorities. Again, we moved sites forward to a desktop review, site visit and design if the sites were viable. We also integrated some on-hold sites from Round 1. The team is currently completing design, cost estimate and NEPA paperwork on 20 sites under Round 2. As of April 1, 2026, the FHWA-WI officials have approved NEPA filings for 2 of the Round 2 sites. Other filings are still pending approval.
We issued a Round 3 RFP in early March that closed on April 2. We received 13 applications and then, again, did a review of the past applications that we did not move forward to identify any other promising sites to pursue. Ultimately we hope to have 15 to 20 additional sites in Round 3.
OECC hosted a webinar on Tuesday, September 9 to review the Round 2 RFP and respond to questions. The webinar recording is available for viewing.
WATCH ROUND 2 WEBINAR
OECC hosted a webinar where we talked about the Charge Up grant and the Round 1 site host RFP opportunity. Staff responded to questions from attendees. Watch the video recording to learn more about this opportunity. .
WATCH WEBINAR RECORDING
