“Governments and members of society have an obligation to exercise responsible stewardship of the earth, thereby protecting not only the wellbeing of their citizens, but also that of both future generations and other citizens of the planet (see D&C 59:18-21 and D&C 104:13-15).”
MWEG’s Principle of Ethical Government 2(f)
For Earth Day this year, ask your state to apply for federal funding for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure that is available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (the BIL, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA) after lawmakers on both sides of the aisle approved the plan. The act is targeted at improving the country’s infrastructure and includes various related investments that address environmental concerns. Among those are programs to conserve water in the West, improve drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, improve air quality by investing in public transit and wildfire mitigation, and increase access to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. State governments will be major partners in implementing the bill.
Funding for programs under the BIL began rolling out to the states last year. One of the programs underway is the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program (NEVI). NEVI funds are designed to help states create “alternative fuel corridors” (AFCs), major roadways like freeways and highways that have alternative fuel sources available. AFCs will encourage and support the transition to cleaner transportation. (Learn more about EVs here.) All 50 states have now designated AFCs.
With alternative fuels on major roadways now planned for and funded, state departments of transportation have the opportunity to apply for a new BIL program, the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program, which provides $2.5 billion over five years to strategically deploy EV charging infrastructure and other fueling infrastructure projects in urban and rural communities in publicly accessible locations, including downtown areas and local neighborhoods, particularly in underserved and disadvantaged communities. State departments of transportation and other local subdivisions have until May 30, 2023, to apply for this funding.
To Do
Contact the appropriate agency in your state and ask them to apply for the CFI grant. For most states, that’s the Department of Transportation, but we have all the information you need — by state — below! State agencies do not get many comments from private citizens about these programs, so your voice can have a big impact! (Don’t know much about agencies? Read this.)
First, take the script below, fill in the blanks, and add your personal experiences with alternative fuels. Second, find your state in the list below, and email the address linked. You can also learn more about your state’s existing plan by clicking on the website link. Finally, send your message. Be sure to let us know what you hear back!
Suggested Script
Hi, as a ___________[state] resident, I want to thank you for designating alternative fuel corridors. [Optional: personal story about clean transportation or statement about importance of lowering pollution or emissions.] To further encourage cleaner transportation, I ask that you consider applying for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program. Applications are due May 30, 2023. Thank you for your work to support clean transportation!
State Agency Contacts
Note: Email links are directed to the state department of transportation’s EV-specific address unless otherwise noted. Some states specifically reference the CFI grants on their websites. Those are also noted, and you can click on the website link for more information. If you’d like to do more, you can reach out to your city or town to see if they have plans to apply for CFI grants.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
EV website (includes references to CFI)
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Email (goes to general HDOT inbox)
Idaho
EV website (includes references to CFI)
Illinois
Survey (you can paste your email text here)
Indiana
Email (goes to Scott Manning, INDOT Deputy Chief of Staff)
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
EV website and dedicated CFI page and information sheet
Maine is really on top of this! You can thank them here
Maryland
EV website (includes references to CFI)
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
EV website (including references to CFI)
Email (goes to Beth Kallestad, Principal Sustainability Planner at MNDOT)
Mississippi
Email (goes to MDOT general planning)
Missouri
Montana
EV website (including reference to CFI); additional information here
Email (goes to MT Department of Energy as directed by EV webinar)
Nebraska
Nevada
EV website (including references to CFI)
New Hampshire
Email (goes to Michael Mozer, NEVI Program Lead)
New Jersey
EV website (Drive Green, which is housed under NJ Department of Environmental Protection)
Email (goes to Drive Green)
New Mexico
Email (goes to April Naranjo, Special Projects Division, NM DOT)
New York
EV website (includes references to CFI; NYSERDA)
North Carolina
North Dakota
Email (general DOT planning email)
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Email (goes to Brett Howell, Transportation Electrification Coordinator)
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Public comments page (scroll down on main page to use feedback section)
South Carolina
Public comments page (scroll down for general SCDOT comment form)
South Dakota
Public contact page (under “Contacting,” scroll down and select one of the “Planning” contacts).
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Email (goes to Lyle McMillian, Strategic Investments Director at UDOT)
Vermont
Virginia
EV website (includes references to CFI)
Washington
West Virginia
Email (goes to Planning Division)
Wisconsin
Wyoming
EV website (includes references to CFI)
Public comment page (select “Grants” as the topic and “Electric Vehicles” as the subtopic)
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