Wexton Announces $15.7 Million In Electric Vehicle Funds Heading to Virginia Highways Under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) announced that Virginia will receive $15,745,244 this year under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along key roads and highways. Passed by the Democratic Congress and signed into law by President Biden, these investments will improve charger access for Virginia drivers, help protect Virginia's environment, and support American car manufacturers' rapidly-growing EV production while creating good-paying jobs.

"Range anxiety is one of the greatest obstacles preventing more Virginians from purchasing electric vehicles," said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. "Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is tackling that problem head on, investing billions to build out convenient EV charging infrastructure in every part of the country. This historic investment will pave the way for further EV development, help us reduce emissions and address pollution, and create good-paying jobs here in Virginia."

The United States' network of 100,000 chargers is currently insufficient to service the growing number of EV owners -- and also struggles with inconsistent plug types, payment options, and data availability. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is addressing these shortcomings, while advancing President Biden's goal to expand the U.S. network to 500,000 chargers and growing electric vehicles sales to 50 percent of the automobile market by 2030. Increasing electric vehicle usage is an essential step towards meeting our climate goals, as light-duty vehicles are the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions within the transportation sector.

Distributed by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the funds announced today will put Virginians to work building a convenient and equitable network of chargers across the commonwealth, making electric vehicles more accessible for both local and long-distance trips. In total, the FHWA is delivering nearly $5 billion in formula funding over the next five years to expand charging access across the country.

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