Call to Action

Call to Action: Ask Your State to Apply for Federal EV Infrastructure Funding

April 21, 2023 /

“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

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas 

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

  • EV website (including references to CFI)
  • Email (goes to Beth Kallestad, Principal Sustainability Planner at MNDOT)

Mississippi

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

New Hampshire

New Jersey

  • EV website (Drive Green, which is housed under NJ Department of Environmental Protection)
  • Email (goes to Drive Green)

New Mexico

  • EV website
  • Email (goes to April Naranjo, Special Projects Division, NM DOT)

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon 

  • EV website
  • Email (goes to Brett Howell, Transportation Electrification Coordinator)

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

  • EV website
  • Email (Matt Meservy, Director of the Long Range Planning Division) or email (Alexa Voytek, State Energy Office Deputy Director of Programs, Innovation & Transportation, Communications

Texas

Utah

  • EV website
  • Email (goes to Lyle McMillian, Strategic Investments Director at UDOT)

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming