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Summer is a great time to plan for your community’s electric vehicle (EV) future. Check out some exciting new funding opportunities and learn how the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) can help you reach your goals.
Joint Office Tribal Nations Technical Assistance
The Joint Office has joined forces with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to provide technical assistance to plan for implementation of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) for Tribal Nations. The Joint Office and NREL can help you get started and provide support for all communities regardless of where they are in their journey to deploying zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure. Technical assistance includes, but is not limited to, community engagement, planning for infrastructure deployment, on-site storage and mobile power generation options, power needs analysis and tips for working with your utility, infrastructure siting needs and support, and strategic planning for fleet, school bus, and transit electrification.
An example of the technical assistance currently being provided includes a partnership with NREL and Clean Cities and Communities to assist in community engagement, gauging interest and exposure to EVs and EVSE by using in-person and virtual meetings to educate and discuss EV basics, fleet transition planning, and battery storage options. This engagement includes surveys to be completed by community members that will assist in guiding next steps and site-specific analysis for EVSE deployment throughout the community.
To discuss your EV goals and start planning for the future, please contact us.
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Wisconsin announced contingent awards for their Round 1 Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program in May 2024 that included two Tribal awards. The Onieda Nation was awarded $405,892 for EV charging infrastructure at their casino, and the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe was awarded $409,602 for EV charging infrastructure at the Fireside Market convenience store.
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NEVI Formula Program – States have begun to solicit for charging station sites on Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) through requests for proposal and notices of funding opportunity (NOFO). Many AFCs throughout the country run through Tribal lands, allowing Tribes to apply for funding through their state to deploy EV infrastructure along that AFC. Funds can be used to build and/or operate EV charging stations, as well as for Tribal workforce training to enable members to build or maintain EVSE. Tribes do not have direct access to NEVI funds and must therefore work with the state to ensure that the state’s plans adequately reflect their interests. Please visit your state’s department of transportation/NEVI sites to find out when the next solicitation will open and reach out to the Tribal Technical Assistance Team with any questions about this opportunity.
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Tribal EV Funding Opportunities
The Biden-Harris administration has opened applications for a historic $1.3 billion funding opportunity for EV charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in urban and rural communities and along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways. This is the largest single grant funding opportunity for EV charging in the nation’s history, and it will accelerate public and private investment in clean transportation in the places people live, work, and play. The application period closes Aug. 28, 2024.
The Clean Bus Planning Awards (CBPA) program reduces barriers to zero-emission bus deployment by providing school and transit bus fleets with free technical assistance to develop comprehensive and customized fleet electrification transition plans. CBPA connects transit and school bus fleets with technical experts to support planning for bus electrification. Fleets also have the option to receive free deployment assistance from NREL at the completion of their plan. CBPA is not an incentive program, and fleets do not receive direct funding—rather, selected applicants will be allocated technical assistance resources by NREL. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
This program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy-efficient equipment and renewable energy systems to offset costs associated with agricultural production and processing. Although Tribal governments are not directly eligible, Section 17 corporations, Tribally owned corporations and enterprises that qualify as small businesses, Tribal agriculture operations, and Tribal member-owned businesses are eligible for assistance under this program. Eligible applicants may utilize the program to assist with installation of EV charging stations and other EV-related projects as part of renewable energy system improvements. This year’s applications are due quarterly on June 30 and Sept. 30, 2024.
This program provides funds for projects on federal lands access transportation facilities that are located on or adjacent to, or that provide access to, federal lands (e.g., national parks, national forests). Projects are typically located within 10 miles of the federal land boundary. Funds are distributed by formula among states that have federal lands. State departments of transportation, Tribes, and local governments interested in EV infrastructure can apply through their state for funding for charging infrastructure and transportation planning. Potential uses for this funding include light-duty vehicle charging, public transportation charging, commercial charging infrastructure planning, workforce development, and vehicle acquisition. The application period is currently open for Nevada, closing July 14, 2024. The application period for Utah is expected to open in August 2024 and for North Dakota in September 2024.
This discretionary grant program provides an opportunity for USDOT to invest in road, rail, transit, and port projects that achieve national objectives. The eligibility requirements allow project sponsors at the state and local levels to obtain funding for multimodal, multijurisdictional projects that are more difficult to support through traditional USDOT programs. In FY 2021, RAISE expanded program eligibility to include zero-emission vehicle infrastructure. FY 2025 applications are due by Jan. 13, 2025.
Tribal Electrification Program, U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Indian Economic Development (OIED)
This funding is for clean energy household electrification that will benefit Tribal communities in the United States. OIED will select Tribal communities that are in stages ranging from early planning to already implementing plans and actions for household electrification. Successful applications will be limited to projects directly related to the planning and implementation of electrification through (1) the provision of electricity to unelectrified Tribal homes through zero-emissions energy systems, (2) transitioning electrified Tribal homes to zero-emissions energy systems, and/or (3) associated home repairs and retrofitting necessary to install and prepare for zero-emissions energy systems. The NOFO opened May 1, 2024, and the application period will close June 30, 2024.
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Tribal and Insular Area Grants, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Transportation and Air Quality
The EPA is authorized under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act to offer funding assistance to accelerate the upgrade, retrofit, and turnover of the legacy diesel fleet. Eligible activities include the retrofit or replacement of existing diesel engines, vehicles and equipment with EPA- and California Air Resources Board-certified engine configurations, and verified retrofit and idle reduction technologies. The NOFO is open, and applications are due by Dec. 6, 2024.
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Upcoming EV-Related Events
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About the Joint Office
The Joint Office is a collaboration between the U.S. Departments of Energy and Transportation to support the buildout of a nationwide network of electric vehicle chargers, zero-emission fueling infrastructure, and zero-emission transit and school buses. Learn more at DriveElectric.gov. It is facilitating the adoption of electrified transportation in collaboration with Tribal Nations by providing comprehensive technical assistance and resources.
Sign up to receive regular communications about Joint Office vacancy announcements, webinars, news, funding opportunities, and thought leadership pieces on creating a future where everyone can ride and drive electric.
For more updates, follow the Joint LinkedIn.
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