117th CONGRESS 2d Session |
To make financial assistance under the Rural Energy for America program available with respect to certain electric vehicle supply equipment expenses.
Ms. Spanberger (for herself and Mr. Rice of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
To make financial assistance under the Rural Energy for America program available with respect to certain electric vehicle supply equipment expenses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure for Farmers Act .
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The transition to electric vehicles is a critical step towards reducing global emissions. According to the United States Department of Energy, electric vehicles produce fewer emissions that contribute to climate change and smog than internal combustion vehicles .
(2) Nearly half of all people in the United States live in counties with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. Every year, more than 20,000 people in the United States die prematurely from pollution stemming from the transportation sector.
(3) Demand for publicly accessible electric vehicle chargers continues to grow. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that by 2050, between 106,000 and 138,000 stations with 343,000 and 447,000 ports could be needed to meet consumer demand.
(4) Travel by people who live in rural areas constitutes 68 percent of our Nation s lane miles, but such people represent only 19 percent of our Nation s population. The cost per mile traveled is lower for electric vehicles, saving rural drivers thousands of dollars over the lifetimes of their vehicles.
SEC. 3. Eligibility of electric vehicle supply equipment expenses for financial assistance under the Rural Energy for America program.
Section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(g) Authority To provide financial assistance with respect to certain electric vehicle supply equipment expenses.
(1) IN GENERAL. The Secretary may provide financial assistance in accordance with this section with respect to expenses for electric vehicle supply equipment for light-duty vehicles, for medium-duty vehicles, and for heavy-duty vehicles.
(2) DEFINITION. In this subsection:
(A) ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY EQUIPMENT. The term electric vehicle supply equipment means any conductors, including ungrounded, grounded, and equipment grounding conductors, electric vehicle connectors, attachment plugs, and all other fittings, devices, power outlets, electrical equipment, or apparatuses installed specifically for the purpose of delivering energy to an electric vehicle or to a battery intended to be used in an electric vehicle.
(B) LIGHT-DUTY ELECTRIC VEHICLE. The term light-duty electric vehicle means a vehicle that
(i) derives all of the power of the vehicle from electricity; and
(ii) has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 10,000 pounds.
(C) MEDIUM-DUTY ELECTRIC VEHICLE. The term medium-duty electric vehicle means a vehicle that
(i) derives all of the power of the vehicle from electricity; and
(ii) has a gross vehicle weight rating of
(I) not less than 10,000 pounds; and
(II) less than 26,000 pounds.
(D) HEAVY-DUTY ELECTRIC VEHICLE. The term heavy-duty electric vehicle means a vehicle that
(i) derives all of the power of the vehicle from electricity; and
(ii) has a gross vehicle weight rating of not less than 26,000 pounds. .