Montgomery Officials Seek Electric Vehicle: City officials and gas station proprietors gathered in Montgomery last week for an application workshop, eager to secure a share of the $80 million federal grant earmarked for the development of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
A substantial portion of the $7.5 billion allocated in the 2021 Infrastructure bill for EV charging stations will flow into Alabama over the next five years. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs will distribute these funds as grants to eligible applicants. Attendees at the workshop sought clarity on their eligibility and the application process.
Kenneth Boswell, ADECA’s director, emphasized the significant funding allocated to ADECA over the next five years. He highlighted the crucial role applicants play in establishing the necessary infrastructure to support the state’s shift towards electric vehicles, particularly with all major auto manufacturers in the state moving in that direction.
The initiative, known as the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure formula program (NEVI), will provide Alabama with nearly $12 million in the initial funding round and an annual disbursement of nearly $17 million until 2026. The first round will prioritize projects along the interstate highway system, requiring eligible projects to be within one mile of interstate exits along designated highways. Applicants can, however, seek exemptions from this requirement.
Shonda Gray, NEVI’s special projects unit chief, clarified that while the initial funding round may largely exclude rural areas, future rounds could target these regions once sufficient charging stations are established along major interstates.
Gray explained, “The program is designed to first build out the alternative fuel corridors, which are the interstates right now.”
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