Red tape cited for construction timeline pushed late into the summer
Red tape cited for construction timeline pushed late into the summer Tesla To J1772
The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.
Red tape cited for construction timeline pushed late into the summer
The Maryland Clean Energy Center at Coppin State University was awarded $15 million to build electric vehicle charging stations across the state, but construction is still months away due to red tape.
The learning process has been cumbersome, and therefore slow, as federal and state partners work to build the infrastructure required to meet the president's goal of getting 500,000 EV charging stations online across the country by 2030.
But officials said the wait in Maryland is almost over.
"It's not just about setting bold goals, it's actually putting together a plan to be able to accomplish them," Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said.
The $15 million funding is part of a new $600 million federal grant to build EV charging stations across the country, especially in disadvantaged communities with multi-family housing.
"The proposed sites for these 58 EV charging stations include locations in disadvantaged communities intentionally," Moore said.
Part of the federal funding will also fund workforce development programs to add 600 jobs for electricians. The governor said the new jobs are vital for his long-term plans.
"I have been very clear that we are going to achieve 100% clean energy by 2035 and zero emissions by 2045," Moore said.
"It's also the right thing to do for our economy and our economic future, and for jobs in the future," Cardin said.
While the leaders said they are proud to be present for the announcement, they were also quick to realize the real-world frustrations that still surround EVs.
"We all know that when people are thinking about buying an electric vehicle, the first thing they do is get out their maps and get online and try to figure out where all the charging stations are," said U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland.
LIVE: USDOT announces expanded EV charging network - https://t.co/FU8rvE2lqt https://t.co/B5T7vCLfdh
For years, there have been financial barriers to buying and owning EVs, but the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is targeting money to reduce the costs of buying EVs through a federal tax credit and to make them more accessible to charge near your home.
Cardin said the $15 million in new funding -- and the communities it will help -- is especially important to him.
"The law that we passed requires that we focus on traditionally underserved communities, and we have a president that's implementing those policies, and a governor that's implementing those policies, a mayor that's implementing those policies, and we are making a huge difference," Cardin said.
Friday's news conference was held with a backdrop of what 11 News Investigates reported in December that Maryland hasn't used any of its $63 million in previous federal funding to build new EV charging stations across the state. Maryland transportation officials said then that construction for those projects would begin this summer at the earliest -- and that's also the case with the new allotment of $15 million.
"I think summer, late summer is a pretty good timeline for start of construction," said David Jankowsky, CEO of Francis Energy, a private company that's competing for contracts in Maryland and other states to build EV charging stations.
Jankowsky cited red tape as the reason construction has taken so long to start but added that companies can install the chargers in four to six months upon approval.
For those resisting buying EVs because they don't think there are enough charging stations, Jankowsky said help is on the way.
"Maryland viewers should know that this infrastructure is coming in a very fast pace, and, really, by 2025, range anxiety should be solved in the state of Maryland," Jankowsky said.
U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg said Friday that the funding and getting the new EV charging stations installed will definitively show that EVs are a "viable and affordable mode of transportation."
2 years after infrastructure law passed, still no new EV chargers built in Maryland Biden administration wants to standardize electric vehicle charging, like gas stations State hopes adding charging stations will increase use of electric cars Get WBAL-TV 11 News on the go
J1772 To Tesla Charger Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.