$73 Million Allocation of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding for EV Infrastructure Announced by Louisiana Governor and LADOTD

Louisiana — On September 15, 2022, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) announce that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has approved the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Deployment Plan and will allocate approximately $73 million in federal funding to Louisiana over the next five years.

This plan, presented to the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program on August 1, 2022, explains the desire to administer federal funding through a grant program that is presently in the works. The grant program will support up to 80% of EV charging infrastructure, with award winners required to match at least 20% of the funding.

“This funding will help Louisiana meet our Climate Action Plan goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” said Louisiana Governor Edwards. “It will also ensure that we’re ready to prosper in a changing economy, where even big oil and gas companies are embracing clean energy. I would like to thank President Biden, Senator Bill Cassidy, and Representative Troy Carter for their hard work getting the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed. My administration is ready to put this federal funding to work to improve the lives of the people of our state.”

“These funds will allow the state to move forward and provide additional fueling infrastructure to the ever-changing transportation industry,” said LADOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D. “Louisiana’s EV charging network is relatively low compared to our neighboring states, and we must be able to accommodate the growing shift in the way people travel. Creating a more sustainable and cleaner environment is of the utmost importance, and one way of accommodating this is by having more charging stations and allowing them to be affordable to the everyday motorist.”

DOTD will begin accepting grant applications in early 2023 for applicants to own, install, and operate EV charging stations that meet federal criteria. Recipients are expected to be chosen and funds distributed by the summer of 2023.

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, which arose from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress in 2021, allocates approximately $73 million to Louisiana over the next five years for EV charging infrastructure.

The department is preparing future outreach events and virtual meetings to solicit comments. Contact [email protected] for further information.