Latest news with #FastChargeTN
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tennessee program makes progress on EV chargers while frozen federal projects languish
Tennessee has closed a loop of electric vehicle chargers in the state even as a federally-funded program to round out Tennessee's charging network remains halted. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Tennessee closed a loop of electric vehicle chargers connecting Nashville, Knoxville, Cookeville and Chattanooga in May, marking a significant milestone in the state's push to support EV adoption. Meanwhile, a federally funded program intended to round out Tennessee's EV charging network — particularly on the state's major interstates and U.S. 64 — has been halted since February at the instruction of President Donald Trump's administration. Tennessee's Fast Charge TN program aims to position an EV charger every 50 miles along Tennessee interstates and highways. In the roughly 400-mile loop closed in May with the installation of chargers in the small town of Athens, EV drivers can now access chargers every 34 miles. The state's $24 million program is funded separately through funds from the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust, electricity revenues from TVA and cost share from grant recipients. Some U.S. Republicans are pushing to keep energy tax credits. Tennessee lawmakers aren't among them. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's Office of Energy Programs released a Notice of Intent for the Fast Charge program's second round in February and expects to solicit projects for 13 gap areas throughout the state 'in the coming months.' Fast Charge TN's federally backed counterpart remains at a standstill. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (NEVI) allocated up to $5 billion to support EV charger installation along 'Alternative Fuel Corridors' across the nation. Tennessee was set to receive $88 million over a 5-year period to complete a plan created by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). Upon taking office, Trump issued an executive order to pause the disbursement of federal grant money for programs supporting electric vehicles and clean energy initiatives under the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The U.S. Federal Highway Administration officially suspended NEVI funding in February, despite having already approved states' program plans. TDOT awarded $21 million in NEVI funds to 10 applicants in January 2024 to install 30 new charging locations, but none of those contracts have been executed as the pause remains in effect, according to TDOT Community Relations Director Beth Emmons. Sixteen states, Washington D.C. and multiple environmental and clean energy groups sued the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration in a Washington federal court in May, arguing the federal agencies had no authority to freeze funds already appropriated by Congress. The Executive Branch, the suit contends, cannot 'override or suspend this process based on changing policy priorities.' EVs in Tennessee: Uncertainty abounds as Trump targets Biden-era electric vehicle funding Tennessee is not one of the plaintiffs. Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee's Congressional representatives have largely been mum on the tension between the state's work to grow the EV industry and the Trump administration's efforts to retract federal support. Tennessee has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into incentives and grants to entice EV-related businesses to locate their manufacturing plants in the state. Lee and the state's economic development department have celebrated the hundreds of jobs promised by EV enterprises since 2017, many in rural areas. All but one of Tennessee's representatives in the U.S. House voted in favor of an amended version of Trump's budget reconciliation bill — which would eliminate electric vehicle tax credits for consumers and create new annual taxes for EV and hybrid owners — in May. Lee also celebrated the bill's passage in the House, and did not respond to a request for comment regarding the potential impact to Tennessee's EV industry. The bill must pass in the U.S. Senate to become law. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tennessee's own EV charging program still running as Trump hits brakes on federal grants
As President Donald Trump orders halts to electric vehicle charger grants, a similar Tennessee program is still moving forward. () Tennessee is pushing forward with a state-level grant program to build new electric vehicle chargers on the state's interstates and major highways even as President Donald Trump's administration blocks similar spending from federal coffers. The state will solicit applications this spring for the second round of grant funding for the Fast Charge TN Network Grant Program. The $24 million program seeks to add about 65 new fast-charging locations to fill infrastructure gaps along Tennessee interstates and highways. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Tennessee Valley Authority created the program in 2021 to fund a network of fast-charging stations at least every 50 miles along the state's major arteries. The grant is funded by $7.5 million from Tennessee's cut of the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust, electricity revenues from TVA and cost share from grant recipients. TDEC Senior Communications Advisor Jennifer Donnals said in an email that the Fast Charge TN program will not be affected by the Trump administration's freeze of funding for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (NEVI). The $5 billion Biden-era program supports EV charger installation along 'Alternative Fuel Corridors' across the nation. The state and federal programs 'have complementary goals,' Donnals said. Roadways covered by the NEVI program include all of Tennessee's two-digit interstates and the majority of U.S. 64. EVs in Tennessee: Uncertainty abounds as Trump targets Biden-era electric vehicle funding 'The second round of Fast Charge TN is aimed at funding projects along prioritized corridors that NEVI funds cannot currently address with the goal of avoiding duplicative efforts and funding,' Donnals said. Establishing a statewide fast-charging network 'improves transportation efficiency, reduces vehicle emissions, promotes EV adoption, and strengthens the resiliency of our transportation network,' according to a TDEC announcement published on Feb. 3. About 50 projects have been completed or are under development under the first round of Fast Charge TN funding, Donnals said. The second and final funding round will complete the program's build out. Tennessee's electric vehicle manufacturing industry has grown significantly in the past decade, and is anticipated to create thousands of jobs, particularly in rural communities. Funding changes under the Trump administration have stirred uncertainty about the industry's future. In the early days of his second term, Trump's administration has taken steps to halt funding for Biden-era clean energy initiatives under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program allocated $88 million to Tennessee to fund the installation of electric vehicle chargers along major corridors over a 5-year period. The U.S. Federal Highway Administration issued a memo Thursday putting spending for NEVI on hold and rescinding the agency's prior approval of states' plans for the program. 'Therefore, effective immediately, no new obligations may occur under the NEVI Formula Program until the updated final NEVI Formula Program Guidance is issued and new state plans are submitted and approved,' the memo states. While new spending is blocked, states may reimburse existing obligations 'in order to not disrupt current financial commitments,' the memo states. New guidance is anticipated this spring. Trump previously signaled a halt to NEVI spending in an executive order upon returning to office. The Tennessee Department of Transportation oversees the program in Tennessee, and awarded $21 million to 10 applicants in January 2024 to install 30 new charging locations. While TDOT has awarded federal funding, the contracting process is ongoing, TDOT Community Relations Director Beth Emmons wrote in an email in January. Emmons said she believes federal decisions on the fate of the program's funding will 'be known by the time we are ready to enter into any official contract.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
