CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Since President Donald Trump froze all funding for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program with an executive order, several of Iowa’s projects have been put on hold.
Last October, the Iowa Department of Transportation had big plans for expanding Iowa’ electric vehicle charging stations.
After being awarded over 16 million dollars from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure – or NEVI – program, they planned to add 28 electric vehicle chargers across the state.
In a statement sent to KCRG, the DOT says they’re waiting until new guidance from the federal government is finalized before they can proceed with adding more chargers.
And one electric vehicle owner says this will seriously discourage drivers from considering clean vehicles.
“The fact that it’s paused now is not so good because we really need that initial infrastructure to help people use electric vehicles here in Iowa.” said Marc Franke, an electric vehicle owner of over a decade.
He says it also makes travel harder for those that already own them.
“If you wanted to come from north of town or east of town or south of town, knowing that that infrastructure is here would be darn helpful if you have an electric vehicle. The longer it doesn’t get built, the harder it will be for people to use those vehicles to travel around Iowa.” he said.
But it’s not just the Trump administration looking to take on EV infrastructure.
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst introduced the Unplug the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Programs Act.
It would stop federal funding from going to projects like these.
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