Gov. Andy Beshear provided an update on Team Kentucky initiatives this week, highlighting recent progress in electric vehicle infrastructure and emergency preparedness efforts across the commonwealth, according to the Governor's office.

The Francis Energy location at Casey's in Bowling Green is the 10th station to open in Kentucky as part of the federally funded NEVI program administered by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The Bowling Green site is located at 4455 Russellville Road off Interstate 65 at Exit 5 and has four ports capable of charging up to 400 kilowatts each. The sites are along the state's interstates and parkways, with each station having at least four charging ports, being accessible to the public 24 hours a day and seven days a week, and working with most EV models.

Kentucky was allotted nearly $70 million in federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand EV chargers over the next five years. Team Kentucky's buildout of its EV Charging Program anticipates adding up to 50 new fast charging stations along Kentucky's interstates and parkways by the end of 2026.

The governor also addressed emergency preparedness initiatives. Gov. Beshear announced the "Moore Safe Nights" program, which honors the work of late deaf and hard-of-hearing advocate Virginia Moore and will distribute 700 deaf or hard-of-hearing weather alert radios at no cost to eligible Kentuckians who apply. The radios have a pillow shaker and strobe light attachment to alert people of severe weather warnings and text displays that light up.

Severe weather can strike at any hour, with the most dangerous time being when people are sleeping, and the deaf and hard of hearing community is particularly vulnerable during this time. Eligible Kentuckians can apply through the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.