Sec. 1303. Clean corridors program
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/bill/117/hr/3684/rh/section-1303A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The purpose of this section is to establish a formula program to strategically deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure along designated alternative fuel corridors that will be accessible to all drivers of electric vehicles. Section 151 of title 23, United States Code, is amended— in subsection
(a)by striking Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the FAST Act, the Secretary shall and inserting The Secretary shall periodically ; in subsection (b)(2) by inserting previously designated by the Federal Highway Administration or after fueling corridors ; in subsection (d)— by striking Not later than and inserting the following: Not later than ; by striking 5 years after the date of establishment of the corridors under subsection (a), and every 5 years thereafter and inserting 180 days after the date of enactment of the ; INVEST in America Act by inserting establish a recurring process to regularly after the Secretary shall ; and by adding at the end the following: Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the INVEST in America Act, the Secretary shall designate national electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling freight corridors that identify the near- and long-term need for, and the location of, electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure to support freight and goods movement at strategic locations along major national highways, the National Highway Freight Network, and goods movement locations including ports, intermodal centers, and warehousing locations. ; in subsection (e)— in paragraph
(1)by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; in paragraph (2)— by striking establishes an aspirational goal of achieving and inserting describes efforts to achieve ; and by striking by the end of fiscal year 2020. and inserting , including progress on the implementation of subsection (f); and ; by adding at the end the following: summarizes best practices and provides guidance, developed through consultation with the Secretary of Energy, for project development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure to allow for the predictable deployment of such infrastructure. ; and by adding at the end the following: There is established a clean corridors program (referred to in this subsection as the “Program”) to provide funding to States to strategically deploy electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure along alternative fuel corridors and to establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability. The purpose of the Program is to provide funding for— the acquisition and installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and hydrogen fueling infrastructure to serve as a catalyst for the deployment of such infrastructure and to connect it to a network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability; proper operation and maintenance of electric vehicle charging infrastructure; and data sharing about charging and fueling infrastructure to ensure the long-term success of investments made through the Program. The Secretary shall establish a deadline by which a State shall provide a plan to the Secretary, in such form and such manner that the Secretary requires, describing how such State intends to use its allocation under this section. If a State fails to submit the plan required by subparagraph
(A)to the Secretary in a timely manner, or if the Secretary determines a State has not taken sufficient action to carry out its plan, the Secretary may— withdraw from the State the funds that were apportioned to the State for a fiscal year under section 104(b)(10); award such funds on a competitive basis to local units of government within the State for use on projects that meet the eligibility requirements described in paragraph (4); and ensure timely obligation of such funds. If the Secretary determines that any funds withdrawn from a State under subparagraph (B)(i) cannot be fully awarded to local units of government within the State under subparagraph (B)(ii) in a manner consistent with the purpose of this subsection, any such funds remaining under subparagraph (B)(i) shall be— apportioned among other States (except States for which funds for that fiscal year have been withdrawn under subparagraph (B)(i)) in the same ratio as funds apportioned for that fiscal year under section 104(b)(10)(C) for the Program; and only available to carry out this section. Funding made available under this subsection shall be for projects— directly related to the electric charging or hydrogen fueling of a vehicle; and only for infrastructure that is open to the general public or to authorized commercial motor vehicle operators from more than 1 company. Any charging or fueling infrastructure acquired or installed with funding under this subsection shall be located along an alternative fuel corridor. Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the INVEST in America Act , the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, shall develop guidance for States and localities to strategically deploy charging and fueling infrastructure along alternative fuel corridors, consistent with this section. In developing the guidance required under clause (ii), the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, shall consider— the distance between publicly available charging and fueling infrastructure eligible under this section; connections to the electric grid or fuel distribution system, including electric distribution upgrades, vehicle-to-grid integration, including smart charge management or other protocols that can minimize impacts to the electric grid, and alignment with electric distribution interconnection processes; plans to protect the electric grid from added load of charging distribution systems from adverse impacts of changing load patterns, including through on site storage; plans for the use of renewable energy sources to power charging, energy storage, and hydrogen fuel production; the proximity of existing off-highway travel centers, fuel retailers, and small businesses to electric vehicle charging infrastructure acquired or funded under this subsection; the need for publicly available electric vehicle charging infrastructure in rural corridors; the long-term operation and maintenance of publicly available electric vehicle charging infrastructure to avoid stranded assets and protect the investment of public funds in that infrastructure; existing private, national, State, local, Tribal, and territorial government electric vehicle charging infrastructure programs and incentives; fostering enhanced, coordinated, public-private or private investment in charging and fueling infrastructure; ensuring consumer protection and pricing transparency; the availability of onsite amenities for vehicle operators, including restrooms or food facilities; and any other factors, as determined by the Secretary. Subject to paragraph (6), funds made available under this subsection may be used for— the acquisition or installation of electric vehicle charging or hydrogen fueling infrastructure; operating assistance for costs allocable to operating and maintaining infrastructure acquired or installed under this subsection, for a period not to exceed five years; the acquisition or installation of traffic control devices located in the right-of-way to provide directional information to infrastructure acquired, installed, or operated under this subsection; or on-premises signs to provide information about infrastructure acquired, installed, or operated under this subsection. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the INVEST in America Act , the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, shall, as appropriate, publish guidance for public comment related to— the installation, operation, or maintenance by qualified technicians of electric vehicle charging infrastructure under this subsection; the physical and payment interoperability of electric vehicle charging infrastructure under this subsection; any traffic control device or on-premises sign acquired, installed, or operated under this subsection; any data requested by the Secretary related to a project funded under this subsection, including the format and schedule for the submission of such data; and network connectivity of electric vehicle charging that includes measures to protect personal privacy and ensure cybersecurity. The Federal share payable for the cost of a project funded under this subsection shall be 80 percent. Notwithstanding section 118(b), funds made available for the Program shall be available until expended. For each of fiscal years 2023 through 2026, before making an apportionment under section 104(b)(10), the Secretary shall set aside, from amounts made available to carry out the clean corridors program under this subsection, $100,000,000 for grants to States or localities that require additional assistance to strategically deploy infrastructure eligible under this subsection along alternative fuel corridors to fill gaps in the national charging network, including in rural areas. In this subsection, the term alternative fuel corridors means a fuel corridor— designated under subsection (a); or equivalent to a fuel corridor described under such subsection that is designated, after consultation with any affected Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, by a State or group of States. .