NYCEDC Unveils New York City’s First Freight-Focused Electric Vehicle Charging Facility, New Welcome Center and Workforce Development Hub Within the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center in the Bronx
MN8 Energy’s Winning Proposal to Include Over 40 Light, Medium & Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
New Welcome Center to Include 10,000 Square Feet of Indoor Space and Feature Shared Spaces, Commercial Space, and Workforce Development Spaces
Charging Facility, Multi-Purpose Hub Meets Critical Hunts Point Forward Commitment While Building on New York City’s Clean Energy Efforts and Mayor Adams’ Green Economy Action Plan
Mack Trucks Deploys New Mack LR Electric Refuse Vehicle to Royal Waste as part of ‘Bronx is Breathing’ Initiative to Introduce Clean Transportation Solution to Hunts Point
NEW YORK, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today announced the winning proposal to build New York City’s first community-driven freight focused electric vehicle charging depot and multi-purpose welcome center and workforce development hub that will serve as the front door for the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center—offering a gateway for clean energy innovation, job creation, and community connection in the Bronx. Led by MN8 Energy (MN8), a New York City-based developer and one of the largest independent solar energy producers in the United States, the charging depot, welcome center and workforce development hub will anchor the next chapter for Hunts Point and meet a critical commitment of the Hunts Point Forward plan. The proposal will include 32 Direct Current Fast Chargers, at least 8 of which will be suitable for Class 8 vehicles with trailer-enabled fast charging stalls, and 10 Level-2 chargers. The infrastructure will support both Medium and Heavy-Duty (MHD) and Light-Duty (LD) electric vehicles, as well as micromobility options such as electric bikes and scooters available 24/7. The project is anticipated to start development in 2026. This charging depot and multi-purpose hub will deliver on key commitments in Mayor Adams’ Green Economy Action Plan by helping combat climate change while helping the Hunts Point community to benefit from these green-collar jobs.
The new, first-of-its-kind 12,500 square feet multi-purpose welcome center and workforce development hub will represent a bold vision for economic mobility, workforce training, and sustainable infrastructure in Hunts Point. It will include 10,000 square feet of indoor space that will be distributed into: shared spaces (~2,000 sq ft) featuring vestibules, lobby and interpretive center, security room, and restrooms; commercial space (~4,200 sq ft) featuring a convenience store with provisions for two restaurants; workforce development hub (~3,600 sq ft) featuring a multi-purpose room, lounge/meditation/quiet room, classrooms, employment office, reception, employee restroom, and shared employment office. MN8 Energy will work in partnership with local nonprofits and workforce providers to develop on-site educational and workforce development programming.
“New York City’s green economy is strong, resilient and growing, and this project is one more example of the Adams administration’s record of delivering on the Green Economy Action Plan,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. “This exciting, pioneering project will bring much-needed freight EV charging to Hunts Point and advance the city’s transition to cleaner and more efficient ground transportation of goods.”
“MN8 Energy’s development will serve as critical EV charging infrastructure while providing a welcome center and space for workforce development at the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “With this announcement, the City continues to build a more sustainable, resilient, thriving Hunts Point, delivering on key commitments in the Hunts Point Forward plan launched three years ago.”
“The Gateway to Hunts Point project exemplifies our commitment to building sustainable infrastructure that sparks economic development while bringing tangible environmental solutions to the communities where we operate,” said Alan Dowdell, Head of Distributed Energy Solutions of MN8 Energy. “This isn't just about charging trucks – it's about creating opportunity and jobs, improving air quality, and building a more equitable clean energy future for the Hunts Point community.”
“The future of where we need to focus on climate isn't just about technology, it's about the people and who benefits when we make these investments: it's about addressing a legacy of environmental racism, and it's about not accepting business as usual and getting more for New Yorkers who know they deserve better,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “When we talk about improving quality of life for generations of New Yorkers to come, you only have to look at what’s happening in Hunts Point as a shining example of what’s possible in neighborhoods around the city.”
“As we work to green the city’s freight network, it is critical to expand opportunities for electric truck charging for fleets both large and small,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “We are excited to partner with EDC on this historic investment in truck charging that will lead to cleaner air in both the South Bronx and citywide, while also advancing workforce development in clean transportation.”
Mack Trucks, a subsidiary of Volvo Group North America (VGNA), delivered the company’s first electric refuse truck, the Mack LR Electric to Royal Waste, a Waste Connections company operating in New York City that provides sustainable waste reduction strategies and recycling programs. The electric refuse truck was delivered as part of a $10 millionBronx is Breathing award Volvo received by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) under the New York Clean Transportation Prize initiative, an effort to reduce air pollution, enhance electrification, and expand mobility in communities like Hunts Point. Bronx is Breathing is a joint effort of Volvo/Mack, Greater Hunts Point EDC, Empire Clean Cities, The Point CDC, and a host of partnering organizations.
“Delivering our first Mack LR Electric to Royal Waste in Hunts Point represents the power of public-private collaboration in supporting community health and sustainability,” said Jonathan Randall, President, Mack Trucks North America. “This project demonstrates how clean transportation helps create a healthier, more prosperous future for all.”
“This public-private partnership places clean transportation and workforce development at the center of the transformational multi-purpose development at Hunts Point,” said New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen Harris. “NYSERDA is proud to contribute to achievement of this milestone, which demonstrates how New York City Economic Development Corporation, State and private sector investments can come together to make the world’s largest food distribution center more sustainable while creating jobs, lowering costs for businesses, and bringing more resources to the Bronx and beyond.”
Today’s electric freight charging depot and multi-purpose hub builds on New York City’s Green Economy Action Plan announced in 2024 that aims to activate electric vehicle charging infrastructure and enable low-carbon alternatives in the transportation sector. This first-of-its-kind plan announced by Mayor Eric Adams, NYCEDC, and the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development (NYCTalent) lays out a series of commitments and strategies that will bolster economic growth, create thousands of jobs, encourage public-private partnerships, and train and position New Yorkers, particularly those from disadvantaged communities, to benefit from the nearly 400,000 projected green collar jobs in New York City by 2040. The electric freight charging station and workforce development hub will also build on Mayor Adams’ Hunts Point Forward plan, a comprehensive plan to create economic opportunity and improve quality of life for New Yorkers in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the South Bronx. The plan is backed by a $40 million commitment from Mayor Adams and outlines a 15-year vision shared by the city and the community with more than 70 short- and long-term recommendations for creating family-sustaining jobs, improving public safety, enhancing community health and access to healthy food, promoting environmental justice, and delivering upgrades to open space, transportation, and other key community infrastructure.
Today’s announcements build on recent developments around the Hunts Point peninsula including the Blue Highway facility in partnership with Con Agg Global, which will be located adjacent to the Fulton Fish Market in the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center and will greatly reduce the need for trucks for material and food & beverage transportation to and from the Bronx in an environmental justice area. A second Blue Highway facility, known as the Hunts Point Marine Terminal was unveiled by the Adams’ administration as their vision for the decommissioned Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center that will move cargo from shipping containers onto additional barges and ferries for last-mile deliveries throughout New York City.
“The creation of a community-driven freight electric charging depot is a critical step towards addressing long-term environmental concerns in Hunts Pont,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “For decades, the Hunts Point community has been unjustly oversaturated by air pollution due to truck traffic. The new charging facility and multi-purpose welcome and workforce center will result in a crucial reduction to emissions while also creating quality jobs, preserving Hunts Point as one of the most important employment centers in the city. I want to thank NYCEDC for continuing to support The Bronx as a great place to do business.”
“Today’s announcement marks a major victory for the South Bronx,” said New York City Councilmember Rafael Salamanca, 17th Council District, The Bronx. “This first-of-its-kind electric vehicle charging hub in Hunts Point is not only a step toward cleaner air and a greener future, it’s also an investment in our community’s workforce. As we fight for environmental justice, this project will bring jobs, training, and opportunity to the very people who have long been impacted by pollution. Hunts Point deserves this, and I’m proud to see it becoming a model for equitable, sustainable development in New York City.”
“The Point is very excited that NYCEDC has chosen a developer for New York City’s first freight-focused electric vehicle (EV) charging facility, alongside a new welcome center and workforce development hub at the AOU-2 site,” said Maria Torres, President and COO of the Point CDC. “We look forward to working with them to develop Community Shared Solar, and much needed electrification infrastructure in Hunts Point.”
“On behalf of the Greater Hunts Point EDC, we are thrilled that the Bronx Is Breathing project and the City of New York are finally able to celebrate this key milestone,” said Don Eversley, Executive Director - Greater Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation. “This was not an easy journey, and I salute the hard work of all the dedicated professionals at both NYCEDC and MN8 Energy. We also deeply appreciate the patience and commitment of the State’s energy agency—NYSERDA—and Volvo Group North America which together provided the vision, core funding and structure for Bronx Is Breathing. Positioning the first East Coast truck charging station in Hunts Point will be a game-changing event on the road to both better air quality and a sustainable transportation future for the South Bronx. Let’s go!”
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
