Steve Lommele, Interim Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Lead and Bridget Gilmore, EV Charging Fellow at Joint Office of Energy & Transportation gave this presentation at the Forth Using Federal Charging Funds Equitably & Effectively webinar on November 15, 2022.
4. Established in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address areas of
joint interest to the Departments of Energy and Transportation
$300M
in FY22 funds to DOT
with transfer authority to DOE
9
major areas of emphasis
Joint Office of Energy and Transportation
5. Areas of emphasis summary:
1) technical assistance of vehicle charging
2) data sharing
3) performance of a national and regionalized study vehicle charging
4) training and certification programs
5) a program to promote renewable energy generation, storage, and grid integration
6) transmission pilots in the rights-of-way
7) research, strategies, and actions to mitigate the effects of climate change
8) development of a streamlined utility accommodations policy for transmission in the
transportation right-of-way
9) any other issues that the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Energy identify
as issues of joint interest
Joint Office of Energy and Transportation
6. Mission and Vision
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Mission
To accelerate an electrified
transportation system that is
affordable, convenient, equitable,
reliable, and safe.
Vision
A future where everyone can ride
and drive electric.
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BIL Programs Supported by the Joint Office
The Joint Office will provide unifying guidance, technical assistance, and analysis to support
the following programs:
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program (U.S. DOT)
$5 billion for states to build a national electric vehicle (EV) charging network
along corridors
Charging & Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (U.S. DOT)
$2.5 billion in community and corridor grants for EV charging, as well as
hydrogen, natural gas, and propane fueling infrastructure
Low-No Emissions Grants Program for Transit (U.S. DOT)
$5.6 billion in support of low- and no-emission transit bus deployments
Clean School Bus Program (U.S. EPA)
$5 billion in support of electric school bus deployments
9. National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI)
Formula Program*
• $5.0B for EV Corridors
– $1.0B/year for FY2022-2026
• Any EV charging infrastructure acquired or installed
shall be located along a designated alternative fuel
corridor
• States required to develop an EV Infrastructure
Deployment Plan
• FY22-26 BIL sets aside 10 percent of EV Formula
funding for grants to States and local governments
that require additional assistance to strategically
deploy EV charging infrastructure, as determined by
the Secretary of Transportation
*Paragraph (2) under the Highway Infrastructure Program heading in title VIII of division J of the
BIL
Alternative Fuel Corridors - Environment - FHWA (dot.gov)
10. For EV charging, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure
Divided into two distinct $1.25 billion grant programs to support EV charger
deployment
– Corridor Charging Grant Program. This program will strategically deploy
publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure and hydrogen, propane, and
natural gas fueling infrastructure along designated Alternative Fuel
Corridors
– Community Charging Grant Program. This program will strategically deploy
publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure and hydrogen, propane, and
natural gas fueling infrastructure in communities
Discretionary Grant Program for Charging and
Fueling Infrastructure
11. The goal
is a
national
network
How do we connect regions? The Nation?
How do we ensure that network is convenient, affordable, reliable,
equitable, and safe?
13. Technical
Assistance
Principles
• Respectful
collaboration with EV
charging experts who
preceded the Joint
Office
• Accomplish the shared
vision of creating a
future where everyone
can ride and drive
electric
To build a reliable, convenient, equitable national network,
Joint Office technical assistance will:
• Dive into the hard challenges alongside states and partners
to create something revolutionary
• Help states build on successes and learn from challenges
• Leverage experiences of states with more mature charging
networks
• Utilize the people, programs, and relationships that came
before us and empower future charging experts
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16. Transit Vehicle Technical Assistance
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Partnering with the FTA to offer direct technical assistance for
eligible transit agencies to plan for and deploy clean buses
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17. NREL | 17
Electric School Bus Technical Assistance
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Partnering with the U.S. EPA to provide direct technical
assistance for eligible school bus fleets to plan for and deploy
clean school buses
18. Equity and
Justice40
Important Guidance
Currently Available:
- Justice40 Interim Guidance
- Guidance to states
Important Forthcoming
Information:
- Minimum Standards and
FAQs
Equity Tools:
Electric Vehicle Charging Justice40 Map
https://www.anl.gov/es/electric-vehicle-charging-equity-
considerations
19. T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
• Electric Vehicle Basics
• Benefits and Challenges of Rural Vehicle
Electrification
• Partnership Opportunities
• EV Infrastructure Planning for Rural Areas
• EV Infrastructure Funding and Financing for Rural
Areas
I N C L U D E S …
• Grant and loan opportunities
• Planning tools and resources
• Rural success stories
www.transportation.gov/rural/ev/toolkit
USDOT’s Rural EV Infrastructure Toolkit
Charging Forward: A Toolkit for Planning and Funding Rural Electric Mobility
Infrastructure
20. Rural EV Infrastructure Funding Matrix
The toolkit includes a comprehensive list of federal programs and eligibilities.
21. P L A N N E D U P D A T E S ( L A T E 2 0 2 2 )
• Updates based on stakeholder feedback
• Expanded content on
o Transit vehicles
o School buses
o Micromobility
o Accessible design
• New funding programs, including the Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law (BIL)
USDOT’s Rural EV Infrastructure Toolkit - Version 2
Charging Forward: A Toolkit for Planning and Funding Rural Electric Mobility Infrastructure
Urban Toolkit (Winter 2023)
• Reframed for urban (e.g., benefits/challenges,
success stories, resources, funding programs)
• Multifamily, building codes, curbside charging,
fleet charging (micromobility, ride-hailing, taxi)
23. Buy America
Proposed Waiver Issued for Comment on August 31st
• Proposed, phased implementation begins on January 1, 2023.
• Point of enforcement is proposed as date of installation, not procurement
• Comments closed on September 30th; desire to finalize ASAP
NEVI Notice of
Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM)
NPRM Closed on August 22nd with 380+ comments
• Many states have indicated that they will follow NPRM and/or are waiting for it to be finalized;
• DOT/DOE/JO + Office of Management and Budget priority rulemaking
Discretionary
Charging and Fueling
Infrastructure Grants
$2.5B for corridor and community charging grants via BIL
• Development of community/corridor discretionary grant programs
NEVI “gap-filling”
grants
10% of NEVI funds are set-aside annually to fund strategic deployment of EV chargers.
• Grants to States and local governments that require additional assistance to strategically deploy
EV charging infrastructure, as determined by the DOT Secretary
Designation of
Freight Corridors
Designate Freight Corridors
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) initiates designation of freight EV corridors
What’s Next for the Joint Office
24. What’s Next for the Joint Office
Technical Assistance
Expand Scope to Focus on Implementation
• Expand activities to address issues related to implementation of EV chargers (e.g. permitting,
utility issues, siting, right-sizing of stations, future proofing, etc.).
MOU Between
NASEO/AASHTO
Support NEVI Implementation and Assist the JPO with TA
• AASHTO/NASEO partnership launched on Sept. 7; will convene states regionally and
nationally in the coming year to help ensure that EVSE investments are strategic,
coordinated, efficient, and equitable.
Round 7 – Request
for Nominations
(RFN)
Develop RFN for Round 7 AFC Designations
• Solicit nominations from States
Electric Vehicle
Working Group
Convene EV Working Group Federal Advisory Committee (FACA) per BIL
• Including members from EV and battery industries, EVSE providers, utilities, fleets, ITS
industry, property development industry, state transportation & energy agencies, labor, local
and tribal governments, etc.
25. • Request
assistance
via online
form
• Initial
response
within 48
hours
• General
questions
and
feedback
welcome!
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driveelectric.gov/contact
At a high level, the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation originated from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The scope ranges from technical assistance for EV charging and zero-emission refueling infrastructure all the way to utilizing our right-of-ways for generation, distribution, and electric transmission. Anything that is needed to enable a sustainable resilient electric transportation future. The Joint Office is intended to be a center of excellence for the Departments of Energy and Transportation and hopefully more broadly across the federal government.
Supports operations, pilot projects, funding opportunity announcements
Last 6-8 months have focused on TA for NEVI program, we have these other areas
The Joint Office mission is to accelerate an electrified transportation system that is affordable, convenient, equitable, reliable, and safe.
And our vision is a future where everyone can ride and drive electric.
Up next are some of the immediate-term priorities for the Joint Office.
The Joint Office supports several programs that were established in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law including:
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, also known as “NEVI,” Formula Program. This program provides $5 billion in funding to states to strategically deploy EV charging infrastructure and establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability. This is designed to inspire confidence of EV drivers in a national charging network that will allow anyone to ride or drive electric. On September 27, 2022 the Joint Office announced that the Biden-Harris administration has approved Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plans for all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico ahead of schedule under the NEVI Formula Program.
There is also the NEVI Discretionary Program which provides $2.5 billion in community grants for EV charging, as well as hydrogen, natural gas, and propane fueling infrastructure.
The Low-No Emissions Grants Program for Transit provides $5.6 billion in support of low- and no-emission transit bus deployments.
Finally, the Clean School Bus Program distributes $5 billion in support of electric school bus deployments.
Now I’d like to talk about technical assistance offered through the Joint Office.
The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation provides technical assistance on planning and implementation of a national network of electric vehicle chargers and zero-emission fueling infrastructure as well as zero-emission transit and school buses.
The Joint Office works with states and key stakeholders to build capacity for electric vehicles, plan for charging infrastructure, and implement approved state plans. Additional technical assistance is provided for deploying electric school buses and electric transit buses.
The technical assistance team will:
Work side-by-side with states and partner to build a revolutionary zero-emission transportation infrastructure.
Help all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico build on the successes and learn from the challenges.
Leverage the experience of the states with more mature charging networks.
And use the people, programs, and relationships of the past, to empower charging experts of the future.
There is 75k miles of designated corridors, important to understand where infrastructure is currently planned, make sure you are sharing your thoughts and needs with your state
NREL and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation are partnering with the FTA to offer Transit Vehicle Technical Assistance Concierge Service
Transit agencies that are currently receiving low-no funds, are planning to apply for low-no funds, or are using other FTA program funds are eligible to receive technical assistance
Technical assistance provided could range from simple questions, like how to get in touch with your electric utility, to more in-depth technical issues or challenges related to low and no emission transit vehicle deployments and fleet transitions
NREL, DOE, and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation are partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to offer clean school bus technical assistance to school districts
The goal here is to provide school districts with the knowledge, tools, and information needed to successfully plan for and deploy clean school buses
We encourage you to let your peers know about this key resource as you are planning to apply for federal funds and as you plan for school bus electrification
An interagency effort, consulted with multiple agencies and CC coalitions around the country for input.
Is a comprehensive resource to help rural stakeholders scope, plan, and fund EV charging infrastructure.
Is structured to provide EV & EV infrastructure basics, tips on planning and partnerships, and funding and financing resources.
Walks through a project planning checklist and provides technical advice on project scoping and utility, installation, and operational planning.
Compiles helpful external tools and resources for cost analysis, charging needs assessment, equitable planning, and other planning topics.
Lists Federal funding and financing programs and eligibility criteria for rural projects.
And includes success stories and examples to help stakeholders understand the process other rural entities have used in deploying EV infrastructure.
The toolkit includes a table of funding opportunities organized by agency, with information on eligibility of applicants, funding amounts and types of projects eligible for funding.
This table spans 11 pages in the toolkit and is also available as a filterable list online, to make it a little easier to use.
Winter 2023 --- DOT is currently working on a similar companion “Urban” EV Infrastructure Toolkit, with a particular focus on:
Suburban & urban areas
Curbside & Multi-unit dwelling issues and solutions
Electrified transit & micromobility opportunities
Equity
Purpose
Provide stakeholders with an easy-to-use guide to planning, funding, and implementing EV charging projects
Audience
Local government
Regional planning organizations
Business owners
Transportation providers
Property owners and developers
Next up is a little on our progress to date and what’s next for the Joint Office.
DRAFT
Buy America: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued an RFI in Nov 2021, and proposed waiver language published on 8/31 (with comments closed on 9/30).
Following establishment of an initial temporary public interest waiver for EV chargers, FHWA proposes to transition and minimize the scope of the waiver over time to ensure the maximum utilization of goods, products, and materials produced in the U.S.
Waiver proposal will require federally-funded EV chargers to be assembled in the United States starting in January 2023, and ramp up to require more than 55% domestic content by January 2024.
The proposed new waiver would initially waive all Buy America requirements for EV chargers and all components of EV chargers that are installed in a project and then phase-out the waiver with two changes during calendar year 2023 and one change in January 2024.
Beginning on January 1, 2023, FHWA proposes to remove from the waiver EV chargers whose final assembly process does not occur in the United States. On and after that date, for EV chargers that are installed in a project FHWA proposes the waiver would be applicable only if final assembly occurs in the U.S.
Beginning on July 1, 2023, FHWA proposes to also remove from the waiver EV chargers for which the cost of components manufactured in the United States does not exceed 25 percent of the cost of all components. On and after that date, for EV chargers that are installed in a project through December 31, 2023, FHWA proposes the waiver would be applicable only if: (i) final assembly occurs in the U.S.; and (ii) the cost of components manufactured in the United States exceeds 25 percent of the cost of all components.
Beginning on January 1, 2024, and thereafter, FHWA proposes to also remove from the waiver EV chargers for which the cost of components manufactured in the United States does not exceed 55 percent of the cost of all components. On and after that date, FHWA proposes the waiver would be applicable only if: (i) final assembly occurs in the U.S.; and (ii) the cost of components manufactured in the United States exceeds 55 percent of the cost of all components.
You can request assistance by filling out the online contact form at driveelectric.gov/contact
Select either “Low-No Emissions Transit Vehicle Technical Assistance” or “Clean School Bus Technical Assistance”
You will receive an initial response back from our technical assistance team within 48 hours (during regular business hours Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm eastern time).
Depending on the type of assistance needed, either key resources will be provided, or other subject matter experts will be looped in to provide more in-depth technical assistance as appropriate
While we are standing up the technical assistance, we also welcome any general questions you have or feedback via this contact form
Excited to hear more from Geoff about how Forth is going to enable communities to take advantage of the opportunities in the Community and Discretionary Grant Program