The Trump Transportation Department has ordered state transportation directors to "decertify" plans created to spend $5 billion to build thousands of EV charging stations across the interstate highway system.
The program was part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. As much as $5 billion was earmarked to build charging stations.
To date, about 30 EV charging stations have been constructed.
It's clear, after nearly four years, that the mountains of red tape the Biden administration forced states to add to the program — including DEI mandates, environmental impact statements, and other impediments — would make the NEVI program take years to complete.
"The new leadership of the Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) has decided to review the policies underlying the implementation of the NEVI Formula Program," wrote Emily Biondi of the Federal Highway Administration in a letter to state transportation agencies.
"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," Biondi wrote.
It's a process that will take months. Where I'm sitting, it's necessary. NEVI had turned into a $5 billion boondoggle, and perhaps streamlining the entire process would speed up the construction of the stations.