In a move that has ripple effects across North Carolina, the Trump administration has put a halt on federal funds earmarked for the construction of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) had been previously granted $109 million under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, intended to spur the growth of the state's electric vehicle infrastructure.
However, as The News & Observer reports, state officials have been ordered not to proceed with expenditures. Prior to this directive, NCDOT had allocated $5.92 million through NEVI grants to assist businesses in establishing fast-chargers at nine locations, a testament to the program's active role in the state's transition toward sustainable transportation.
The US Transportation Secretary, as highlighted by ABC11, has expressed intentions to reassess the policies managing the grant money, with a set plan to release revised guidelines soon. This currently leaves nine EV charging stations in various stages of development across the state stranded at a standstill.
Moreover, detailing the NEVI program provisions, WRAL explains that each state's EV infrastructure plan requires approval from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy before financing is secured. Duffy's department has withdrawn guidance instigated by the Biden administration aiming to gather public insights, consequently stalling the NEVI program and prompting a revision of its guidelines this coming spring. Despite, the freeze on future projects, the federal government has agreed to reimburse states for any projects currently under construction. Consequently, the NCDOT can proceed with the nine stations in their pipeline.
Locations such as Firehouse Subs on U.S. Highway 17 in Elizabeth City and Love’s Travel Stop on Interstate 40 in Marion, among others, were slated to benefit from the installation of EV charging stations. These sites, listed by WRAL, represent the state's larger effort to expand its EV-capable infrastructure and move toward an electrified transportation future.
