Bob Coates, Program Manager at the USDA Rural Utilities Service gave this presentation at the Forth Rural EV Charging Programs webinar on May 14, 2024.

1. Charging Forward: Bringing Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure to Rural Communities
Bob Coates- USDA RUS Electric Program
May 14, 2024

2. Impact on EV Rollout in Rural Areas
• Cooperatives serve 20% of Americans
• Cooperative service territory covers 70% of
America’s highway route miles
• Many rural areas do not have sufficient
power lines to handle DC Fast chargers or
provide 3 phase power to farms and
businesses
• Tight implementation timeline
• Funding questions
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3. Benefits of EV’s, EV Buses, OTR Trucks, EV Farm and
Const Equipment to Rural America
• Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(GHG’s)
• Lower total cost of ownership
• Improved air quality, especially on
Farms and school buses
• Improved power
• Reduced maintenance
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4. USDA Rural Power Drive Initiative
USDA/Rural Development programs can be used to leverage federal, state, and private
sector investments to support the development and deployment of electric vehicle (EV)
charging stations serving rural areas. USDA is collaborating with other federal agencies
to achieve this goal.
RD can use existing programs and authorities to:
(1) Provide affordable financing to expand the availability of EV charging
infrastructure in rural areas
(2) Leverage EV infrastructure investment into further rural economic development
(3) Enhance the Broadband rollout in rural communities
(4) Foster a network of EV infrastructure leaders and tradespersons in rural
communities
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5. What the Rural Housing Service Can Do
Community Facilities (CF) can finance:
− Non-profit and municipal vehicles serving community needs
− Related community-based charging infrastructure
− Community-owned and serving charging stations
Single Family Housing (SFH) can finance:
− Homes that include electrical service and charging stations suitable for home charging.
Multi Family Housing – can finance:
- charging stations through improvements or new construction 5

6. • REAP – Farm and small
Business Energy Efficiency
Projects
• Electric Infrastructure
Program –Infrastructure
Improvements for EV
chargers
• RESP – Behind the meter EV
chargers and Gap funding
above BIL
USDA is here to help cover EV Gap funding!
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7. • Charging stations
• Service lines
• SG (fiber) connections to charging
stations
• Heavying up of power lines
• Demand side management
• Metering
• Energy storage
• Renewable power supply
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The Electric Infrastructure Program
can finance electric utility owned charging stations and network infrastructure including:

8. More on What RUS Can Do – RESP & EECLP
Eligible entities can use the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) to finance
charging stations and related infrastructure owned by the customer.
• Eligible entities: all utilities, energy efficiency entities, Municipalities, Tribes
• Customer: businesses, municipalities, individuals, Tribes, schools
• Provides 0% financing to the borrower. Borrower relends to the consumer at a
rate no higher than 5% for up to 10 years. On-bill financing for consumer.
The Energy Efficiency Conservation Loan Program (EECLP) can also finance
relending and system energy efficiency measures including investments related to
beneficial electrification.
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9. • BIL Link: Text - H.R.3684 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
• DOT Toolkit: www.transportation.gov/rural/ev/toolkit
• EPA Clean bus initiative: https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus
• RESP website: Rural Energy Savings Program | Rural Development (usda.gov)
• USDA Community Facilities Program: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/funding/91
• REAP website: Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems &
Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants | Rural Development
(usda.gov)
Related Web Links
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10. Contact
Bob Coates PE, PMP
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator
Grid Security Division
Electric Program, USDA
Email: Robert.Coates@usda.gov
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-
savings-program
USDA Rural Energy Savings Program Link:

11. www.rd.usda.gov
1 (800) 800-670-6553
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.