What’s Happening: The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is now accepting applications for a new multi-billion-dollar program to fund electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure in communities across the country and along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways. The program aims to create a national network of 500,000 public EV charging stations and reduce national greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% by 2030.
Why It Matters: The CFI Discretionary Grant Program builds on the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program to provide funding to a wide range of applicants, including cities, counties, local governments, and Tribes, to strategically deploy EV charging and other alternative vehicle-fueling infrastructure projects in publicly accessible locations in urban and rural communities, as well as along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). This program will create good-paying jobs and encourage equitable and widespread EV adoption, especially in underserved and disadvantaged communities.
Key Points:
- The CFI Discretionary Grant Program will provide $2.5 billion over five years, with up to $700 million from fiscal years 2022 and 2023 funding available in this round.
- The program is divided into two distinct grant funding categories: the Community Program and the Corridor Program.
- FHWA seeks to fund projects that address environmental justice, particularly for communities such as rural and low- and moderate-income neighborhoods that may disproportionately experience the consequences of climate change and other pollutants.
- Eligible applicants and projects for both categories are outlined in a Notice of Funding Opportunity published today, and applications are due by May 30, 2023.
Bottom Line: The Biden-Harris Administration is taking a significant step towards reducing national greenhouse gas emissions and creating a nationwide network of 500,000 public EV charging stations by launching the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program. This multi-billion dollar program will fund strategically deployed EV charging and other alternative vehicle-fueling infrastructure projects in publicly accessible locations in urban and rural communities, as well as along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs), and will create good-paying jobs while encouraging equitable and widespread EV adoption.
