U.S. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), and Morgan Griffith (R-VA0 in asking the U.S. Departments of Energy and Transportation to address concerns over the implementation of national Electric Vehicle infrastructure programs.
In a letter to U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the Congress members questioned how the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program is being implemented as well as the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant program.
“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provided $5 billion for the NEVI Formula Program ($1 billion annually from FY22-FY26), and a total of $2.5 billion from FY22-FY26 for the CFI Discretionary Grant Program,” the Congress members wrote. “Despite recent award announcements, little progress has been made in the buildout of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. On December 15, 2023, the Department of Energy and Department of Transportation announced the opening of America’s first EV fast charging stations funded through the NEVI Formula Program: in Ohio and New York. This announcement for merely eight charging stations comes more than two years after the passage of the IIJA.
The members asked the two department heads to answer how many EV chargers are expected to be constructed in 2024 using NEVIT and CFI program funds, as well as how the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation is updating its review of state plans to address the deployment of private sector EV chargers. The law makers also wanted clarification on implementation of EV chargers in disadvantaged communities.
“In the Federal Highway Administration’s January 11, 2024, press release, it stated, ‘More than 70 percent of the CFI funding announced today will support project sites in disadvantaged communities,’” the Congress members wrote. “Understanding EVs are extremely cost prohibitive for many, expensive to maintain, and have high insurance costs, can you please share how the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation is ensuring charging stations being awarded will receive maximized usage?”
The Congress members also asked for an accounting of the number of employees in the Joint Office of Transportation and Energy, what the Joint Office’s budget is and how the Joint Office will uphold the Buy America requirements within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The Congress members gave the two Secretaries until March 7 to answer.