The Indiana Department of Transportation wants Hoosiers to weigh in on the state’s proposed electric vehicle charging network.
The state is investing more than $100 million dollars in the new, multiyear project, with funding from last year’s federal bipartisan infrastructure law.
Scott Manning, deputy chief of staff of the department, said the feedback the state receives will help it fine-tune the plan.
“We’re very interested in hearing from communities around the state about everything within the plan,” Manning stated. “And how we can best leverage the federal funding that’s available for EV charging infrastructure to really maximize the impact and the benefit for Hoosiers.”
The department is accepting written public comments on the draft implementation plan until August 20, but Indiana must submit its initial plans to the federal government by next Monday for final approval.
Manning described the plan as a “living document” and said public comments filed after the federal submission can be implemented in future updates. The department hopes to receive approval on the draft EV charger infrastructure plan by the end of September.
A 2021 report by market analytics group McKinsey and Company found the bulk of the nation’s current EV chargers are located in high-income, urban areas, which were the first to adopt electric vehicles.
Manning pointed out part of the goal of the public comment period is to ensure electric vehicle chargers are fairly distributed. He added the state also is weighing workforce training programs for disadvantaged communities, so they can reap the economic benefits of building and maintaining the EV network.
“So we really want to be all-encompassing when we talk about equity,” Manning emphasized. “It’s not just the location of the stations, but it’s really being mindful of equity in really every component of the program.”
The Biden administration has set a goal of constructing half a million new electric vehicle chargers along highway corridors and in communities across the country, which will cost roughly $7.5 billion.
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What about the people that don’t have an EV? What do they get. We still pay road taxes, EV owners do not. We pay gas taxes, are the EV owners paying the same. Seems like this is slanted to those that can afford an electric vehicle. Even though it’s federal funding, cant it be put to better use?
So they are going to place the chargers based on EQUITY? Great idea, lets waste money putting charges in places where EVs are too expensive to be an option for the people who live there because racism.
Seriously, this entire plan is stupid. THIS is why the government has no business creating the equivalent of EV gas stations.
And anytime a goobermint official says the word equity, you know they are an abject moron.
What about the additional drain on the already stressed power grate? I am concerned that as power companies begin to build additional power grates that my electric bill will jump sky high to offset their cost for research, planning, government red tape, etc. It is my opinion that this is all for the benefit of the wealthy. All of these concerns to further stretch and push “The New Green Deal”. The costs for EV and the EVC is far too expensive and our nation is not ready for such a change. Maybe 10 years from now after we have seen the cost go down so everyone can afford EV.
I object, strenuously, that my meager SS stipend will be taxed to support a boondoggle. Europe is already re-starting their coal fired plants because they foolishly bought into the green new deal by buying fuel from Russia. That is what will happen here too when the added demand for electricity is put on our grid. If EV’s are a great idea, and economically viable, then they will come to market on their own without ANY help from government. No discounts. No subsidies. No taxpayer’s funds being spent.
P. S. When the brownouts or blackouts come we know who to blame. When you loved on dies because his or her medications lost cooling or their vital medical equipment loses power and they die we know who to blame.