Private developers could seek grants for public electric vehicle chargers

The Department could award private developers grants for some costs of installing public electric vehicle chargers. Chargers must be in a county with fewer than 160 people per square mile, an independent city with above-average unemployment and poverty, on a Virginia state or federal park or forest, or within one mile of that public land. Grants would depend on money being available, and the Department could award less than requested. Any project costs not covered by a grant would have to come from nonfederal funds. A rural locality would be ineligible if it has 5,000 or fewer residents per qualifying public charging port. Qualifying ports must meet program power and uptime standards, be open to everyone, and allow open-access payment methods. The provisions would expire on July 1, 2031.

The Department would set grant rules and require an approved plan for operating and maintaining each funded charger. These rules would apply to projects seeking grants through the program. Chargers would need a power source rated at least 208 volts and would have to meet the Department's minimum average yearly uptime standard. The Department would prefer sites with public amenities in rural areas and near eligible public land. For chargers on eligible public land, it would set access and siting criteria, where feasible. The five-year plan period would start when the charger enters service.