It’s no secret that the United States as a whole and Michigan in particular are in a period of transition to electric vehicles. With the increased number of EVs on the road, there is a growing need for charging stations. Recently, the federal government developed the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. This program is intended to get funding to states like Michigan to establish EV infrastructure.
The NEVI program is a federal initiative led by the United States Departments of Energy and Transportation (DOE and DOT). It recognizes the importance of establishing a comprehensive charging infrastructure network to address the infrastructure challenges associated with EV adoption. The program aims to incentivize the installation of EV charging stations and promote consumer confidence in EVs through a range of funding opportunities.
It was recently announced that Michigan will receive about $110 million in NEVI funds through 2026. The question is now who is eligible to receive NEVI funds and how does one apply? Can a person or company obtain these funds to open an EV charging station? As with any government funding program, there will be certain rules and standards that must be met in order to obtain NEVI funds.
Federal guidance regarding eligibility for NEVI funds was recently released and can be found here. A good thing for a potential applicant to do at this point is to prepare for the application program to open. Along with hiring legal counsel, a prospective applicant should begin communicating with EGLE, local utilities, and local planning and zoning officials to ensure the proposed site is eligible for an EV charging station or NEVI funds. As with any application-based funding system, those who are prepared before applying stand the best chance of receiving funds.
The attorneys at Dalton & Tomich, PLC are experienced in all areas of land use, and are staying up to date on EV infrastructure developments. If you have questions regarding NEVI funds or charging stations, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would be happy to speak with you.
