
PHASE 2:
Pivot to the States and
Implementation of Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act
The National EV Charging Initiative seeks to spur bold actions in the public and private sectors to fully realize the opportunities presented by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Working together, we will go beyond ‘Business as Usual’ to address financing challenges, leverage our progress to date, and unlock public and private capital to scale infrastructure deployment. We will execute this in a way that brings good jobs at good wages and economic growth to communities across America, ensuring that those benefits reach historically marginalized communities.
The first phase of the Initiative achieved an outcome rarely experienced in the public policy arena: the generation of goodwill. In January 2022, we organized and hosted the first national conversation on EV Infrastructure, featuring actions from the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and bringing high-level members of the administration and stakeholders forward to showcase bold commitments. The National EV Charging Summit set a vision and delivered a tangible framework for a true public-private partnership. 35 national and regional organizations representing diverse interests, hundreds of companies, and millions of individual members and workers have joined the Initiative, and contributed to and endorsed a set of policy guidelines.
Pivot to the States and Implementation of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
Pivot to the States will execute on the Initiative’s strategic goal to utilize its Guiding Principles framework to support the Biden Administration in delivering and executing funding that is timely, effective and catalyzes additional private sector investments. The focus will be to leverage the broad representation of the National EV Charging Initiative Signatories and Advisory Group to target state processes of planning and execution to educate and influence collaboration, coordination, and implementation by building on the National EV Charging Initiative Guiding Principles to include:
Convene Initiative Signatories: Step one is to reconvene the National EV Charging Initiative Signatories to advocate support of the Guiding Principles in target states. This includes engaging the 35 national organizations to align around a consensus on key activities for 2022 engagement.
Campaign to Educate and Influence: The campaign will help frame state planning processes and Investments in EV charging in the most positive way, shape the public’s understanding of the benefits of the investments and raise the visibility of the National EV Charging Initiative as leading the national conversation on EV charging infrastructure
Prepare a Model Executive Order and Conduct Outreach to Governors in Priority States: Prepare and execute a model Executive Order that directs relevant state agencies to seize the various opportunities related to EV charging included in IIJA to present to governors and key state officials and organize a virtual road show of relevant signatories (4-6 per target state) to meet (virtually) with key state officials.
Stakeholder Engagement: The goal is to use the Initiative to provide a “one-stop-shop” for states to conduct the public engagement that is required by Federal Highway Administration’s NEVI Formula Program guidance and that must be described as part of the “EV Infrastructure Deployment Plans” due August 1, 2022 (plans that will be approved by FHWA by September 30, 2022).
Regional Summits: Host a series of regional summit all about what’s happening and keeping the momentum. Timing to follow on the approval of state EV Infrastructure Deployment Plans that is set for September 30, 2022.
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The first phase of the National EV Charging Initiative achieved an outcome rarely experienced in the public policy arena: the generation of goodwill. By setting a vision and delivering a tangible framework for a true public private partnership; engaging 35 national organizations representing hundreds of companies and thousands of employees to contribute to and endorse a set of policy guidelines; and organizing and hosting the first national conversation on EV Infrastructure–the Initiative was able to generate goodwill, demonstrate the importance of collaboration, and draw commitments that, but for this process, would not have come together in such an organized way.
This has been a yearlong process–the MOU and Guiding Principles provided a framework for the National EV Charging Summit, which was the exciting culmination of this work. The National EV Charging Initiative provided an important positive backdrop and starting line for the historic opportunity that lays in front of us. It provided an opportunity to message alignment, principles, and expectations.
However, the hard work remains.
Phase 2 will execute on the Initiative’s strategic goal to utilize the Guiding Principles framework to support the Biden Administration in delivering and executing the IIJA funding that is timely, effective and catalyzes additional private sector investments.
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The focus of this effort will be to leverage the broad representation of the National EV Charging Initiative Signatories and Advisory Group to target the State process of planning and execution to educate and influence collaboration, coordination, and implementation by building on the National EV Charging Initiative Guiding Principles.
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1. Re Convene Signatories of the National EV Charging Initiative to advocate support of the Guiding Principles in States
2. Execute a Campaign to Educate and Influence States Investment in EV Charging in the most positive way, shape the public’s understanding of the benefits of the investments and raise the visibility of the National EV Charging Initiative as leading the national conversation on EV Charging Infrastructure
3. Develop a Model Executive Order and Conduct Outreach and Stakeholder engagement with Governors and Key State Officials and participate in the state public engagement process
4. Plan and Execute a Series of Regional Summits Host a series of Summit all about what’s happening and keeping the momentum. Consider 3 Virtual half day Regional Summits: West, South East, NE/MW/MidAtlantic.
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eMobility Advisors, on behalf of and with strategic support from NRDC, is leading the planning, organization, and execution of this phase of the Initiative.
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In November of 2021 President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act setting in motion an historic investment in EV Charging Infrastructure. Subsequent actions to execute on the Investment include: February 10, 2022, the Administration officially launched the Joint Office of Energy & Transportation and released its National EV Charging Infrastructure (NEVI) Guidance to states.
The guidance is directed to states as they develop their investment plans for their share of the $5B in formula funds for EV charging infrastructure. The program guidance is focused specifically on the NEVI Formula Program ($5B), but additional guidance and information on the Corridor and Community Charging Grant Program will be forthcoming ($2.5B expected in Fall of 2022)
In August of 2022 States are required to file their NEVI plans with the Joint Office and plans will be approved by September of 2022.
There are many other IIJA programs that may not be dedicated to EVs but that could also speed the deployment of charging infrastructure. Collectively, those other programs present a funding opportunity that is significantly larger than the $7.5 billion from the NEVI and Corridor and Community Charging Grant Program.
Phase 2 of this initiative will continue the collaboration of the key actors with a pivot to State governments who are central to doing the work of deploying a national EV Charging network that is needed to meet the aggressive air quality, climate, and equity goals.
It will stand up the Guiding Principles of the National EV Charging Initiative commitments and actions needed to accelerate EV adoption by delivering and executing the IIJA funding that is timely, effective and catalyzes additional private sector investments.
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The IIJA funding for EV charging is critical to create a robust charging network across the country.
Fully realized EV charging infrastructure will not only help combat the effects of climate change but will help communities in need. We must bridge the divide that separates disadvantaged communities from the technologies that can help better their lives. EV charging stations in neighborhoods can mean the difference for electrified public transportation being an option for communities where other green transit options are not present.
EV adoption will also bring substantial benefits to the environment. Reduced carbon emissions will result in cleaner air in communities that struggle with air pollutants. Air quality issues disproportionately impact minority populations in urban communities. Investing in EV charging infrastructure within these communities will help to address these longstanding issues and benefit future generations.
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• Executive Orders presented to State Officials
• Participation in Stakeholder Engagement Processes
• Organize Regional Summits in Fall and Winter of 2022