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The Trump administration’s efforts to unwind Biden-era electric vehicle programs continued to lead this week’s transportation news, as state-level officials struggled with the uncertainty surrounding the administration’s pause of federal funding for EV charging.
More than $3 billion from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program has been allocated to states, but only about $500 million has been awarded in contracts. Different states have taken varying approaches to the administration’s pause, with some halting work on charging programs, and others proceeding with obligated funding. “No new obligations may occur under the program, but reimbursement of existing obligations will continue in order to not disrupt current financial commitments,” a spokesperson for the Transportation Department told The New York Times.
Because the funding for NEVI comes from Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the administration’s legal basis for pausing the funding is unclear. However, the department has attempted a legal workaround, rescinding previously issued guidance for state plans, potentially invalidating existing plans and preventing new obligations.
In other federal news, Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader John Thune, introduced legislation to end consumer tax credits for new, used and leased EVs, along with the investment tax credit for charging stations. They also proposed adding a $1,000 fee to the purchase of new EVs to make up for lost gas taxes.
In state policy news, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has taken issue with two electric utility proposals to establish EV charging rates, arguing that to require customers to pay for new meters “negates all financial value for the customer.” The utilities are required by state law to establish off-peak EV charging rates, but the AGO and environmental groups have argued that the utilities’ plans do not provide adequate incentives for customers to adopt EVs or shift their charging patterns.
In Illinois, ComEd announced $100 million in new EV rebates. The funding is not reliant on federal money and will be split between incentives for charging upgrades and vehicle purchases.
In shipping news, Christopher Wiernicki, CEO of the American Bureau of Shipping, emphasized the potential of nuclear-powered vessels for decarbonizing shipping. He told attendees at a conference in Houston that there is “no net zero by 2050 without nuclear.”
All that and more in this week’s Intelligence Report:
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