The Trump administration on Thursday said it was blocking money for electric vehicle chargers, including Washington’s $71 million, one of the White House’s latest steps to halt Biden-era funds.
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, known as Nevi, was set to drive a total of $5 billion into the state to build charging networks along the highways. Previous Federal Highways Bureau Approved State Plans To spend money.
Washington’s Department of Transport wanted to identify Interstate 5 and other highways and focus their charging efforts.
However, in a letter Thursday, the federal Department of Transport told the state it had suspended approval of its money spending plan for EV chargers.
“The new leadership of the Department of Transport (US DOT) has decided to consider the policies underlying the implementation of the NEVI Formula Program,” wrote Emily Biondi of the Federal Highways Agency.
She said the agency has withdrawn approvals for all state plans for the program.
“Therefore, there will be no new obligations under the NEVI Formula Programme until an updated final NEVI Formula Programme guidance is issued immediately and new state plans are submitted and approved,” Biondi said. I am writing.
Biondi said the Highway administration wants new guidance on charger funding available in the spring.
The state Department of Transport hopes to acquire some of its shares from businesses and nonprofits until the end of January. $71 million. However, the agency did not award the money because it assumed the funds were uncertain due to the White House threat of cancelling and blocking them.
The money came from the bipartisan infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
According to the state transport division, this is not the only electric vehicle that is still stagnant. Approximately $21 million for truck charging and hydrogen refueling stations along the I-5 were also pending. This was part of the $102 million awarded to Washington, Oregon and California for work along the interstate corridor.
Meanwhile, officials believe $10 million will be available Thursday for replacement and repair of the EV charger.
On Wednesday, the new Director of the State Department reported $53 million across 13 grants from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency.
As of Thursday morning, most of that money had not been frozen, with the three grants focusing on a total of nearly $5.7 million in total, an Ecology spokesman said.
It was unclear on Thursday whether the state Department of Commerce has regained access. $156 million Solar power grants, according to a department spokesperson.
