[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1221 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1221
To increase deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in
low-income communities and communities of color, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 23, 2021
Ms. Clarke of New York (for herself, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Norton, Mr.
Grijalva, Ms. Barragan, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Welch, Mr. Carson, Mr.
Cleaver, Mr. Jones, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Sires, Ms. Velazquez,
Mr. Hastings, Ms. Speier, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Thompson of
Mississippi, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Ryan, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Meng, Ms. Waters,
Mr. Raskin, and Ms. Matsui) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To increase deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in
low-income communities and communities of color, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Electric Vehicles for Underserved
Communities Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The transportation sector is the largest single source
of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
(2) The transportation sector is also a major source of air
pollution in the United States, including over 55 percent of
total nitrogen oxide emissions, leading to poor air quality and
negative health impacts, particularly in urban areas.
(3) Increasing the deployment of electric vehicles and
electric vehicle charging infrastructure is an essential
component of combating climate change, decarbonizing the
economy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and health-
harming air pollution in the United States.
(4) Industries relating to electric vehicles, electric
vehicle charging infrastructure, and the larger clean energy
economy are substantial and diverse sources of good jobs and
significant contributors to economic growth.
(5) A substantial increase in electric vehicle charging
infrastructure, including publicly accessible charging
stations, will ensure that our communities are ready to meet
the demands of expected electric vehicle adoption as we
decarbonize our economy.
(6) Low-income communities, communities of color, and
Tribal communities bear disproportionate climate change and
pollution burdens, yet have historically received the least
investment in clean technologies and resilient infrastructure.
Therefore, such communities must be among the first to receive
investment relating to new technologies and infrastructure that
address the climate crisis and mitigate localized environmental
pollution.
SEC. 3. EXPANDING ACCESS TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN UNDERSERVED AND
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
(a) In General.--
(1) Assessment.--The Secretary shall conduct an assessment
of the state of, challenges to, and opportunities for the
deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in
underserved or disadvantaged communities located throughout the
United States.
(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate a report on the results of the
assessment conducted under paragraph (1), which shall--
(A) describe the state of deployment of electric
vehicle charging infrastructure in underserved or
disadvantaged communities located in urban, suburban,
and rural areas, including description of--
(i) the state of deployment of electric
vehicle charging infrastructure that is--
(I) publicly accessible;
(II) installed in or available to
occupants of public and affordable
housing;
(III) installed in or available to
occupants of multi-unit dwellings;
(IV) available to public sector and
commercial fleets; and
(V) installed in or available at
places of work;
(ii) policies, plans, and programs that
cities, States, utilities, and private entities
are using to encourage greater deployment and
usage of electric vehicles and the associated
electric vehicle charging infrastructure,
including programs to encourage deployment of
publicly accessible electric vehicle charging
stations and electric vehicle charging stations
available to residents in publicly owned and
privately owned multi-unit dwellings;
(iii) ownership models for Level 2 charging
stations and DC FAST charging stations located
in residential multi-unit dwellings, commercial
buildings, and publicly accessible areas;
(iv) mechanisms for financing electric
vehicle charging stations; and
(v) rates charged for the use of Level 2
charging stations and DC FAST charging
stations;
(B) identify current barriers to expanding
deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure
in underserved or disadvantaged communities in urban,
suburban, and rural areas, including barriers to
expanding deployment of publicly accessible electric
vehicle charging infrastructure;
(C) identify the potential for, and barriers to,
recruiting and entering into contracts with locally
owned small and disadvantaged businesses, including
women and minority-owned businesses, to deploy electric
vehicle charging infrastructure in underserved or
disadvantaged communities in urban, suburban, and rural
areas;
(D) compile and provide an analysis of best
practices and policies used by State and local
governments, nonprofit organizations, and private
entities to increase deployment of electric vehicle
charging infrastructure in underserved or disadvantaged
communities in urban, suburban, and rural areas,
including best practices and policies relating to--
(i) public outreach and engagement;
(ii) increasing deployment of publicly
accessible electric vehicle charging
infrastructure; and
(iii) increasing deployment of electric
vehicle charging infrastructure in publicly
owned and privately owned multi-unit dwellings;
(E) to the extent practicable, enumerate and
identify in urban, suburban, and rural areas within
each State with detail at the level of ZIP Codes and
census tracts--
(i) the number of existing and planned
publicly accessible Level 2 charging stations
and DC FAST charging stations for individually
owned light-duty and medium-duty electric
vehicles;
(ii) the number of existing and planned
Level 2 charging stations and DC FAST charging
stations for public sector and commercial fleet
electric vehicles and medium- and heavy-duty
electric vehicles; and
(iii) the number and type of electric
vehicle charging stations installed in or
available to occupants of public and affordable
housing; and
(F) describe the methodology used to obtain the
information provided in the report.
(b) Five-Year Update Assessment.--Not later than 5 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
(1) update the assessment conducted under subsection
(a)(1); and
(2) make public and submit to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report, which
shall--
(A) update the information required by subsection
(a)(2); and
(B) include a description of case studies and key
lessons learned after the date on which the report
under subsection (a)(2) was submitted with respect to
expanding the deployment of electric vehicle charging
infrastructure in underserved or disadvantaged
communities in urban, suburban, and rural areas.
SEC. 4. ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING EQUITY PROGRAM.
(a) Program.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program, to be
known as the EV Charging Equity Program, to increase deployment and
accessibility of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in
underserved or disadvantaged communities by--
(1) providing technical assistance to eligible entities
described in subsection (e); and
(2) awarding grants on a competitive basis to eligible
entities described in subsection (e) for projects that increase
such deployment and accessibility of electric vehicle charging
infrastructure, including projects that are--
(A) publicly accessible;
(B) located within or are easily accessible to
residents of--
(i) public or affordable housing;
(ii) multi-unit dwellings; or
(iii) single-family homes; and
(C) located within or easily accessible to places
of work, provided that such electric vehicle charging
infrastructure is accessible no fewer than 5 days per
week.
(b) Cost Share.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
amount of a grant awarded under this section for a project
shall not exceed 80 percent of project costs.
(2) Single-family homes.--The amount of a grant awarded
under this section for a project that involves, as a primary
focus, single-family homes shall not exceed 60 percent of
project costs.
(c) Limitation.--Not more than 15 percent of the amount awarded for
grants under this section in a fiscal year shall be awarded for
projects that involve, as a primary focus, single-family homes.
(d) Priority.--In awarding grants and providing technical
assistance under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to
projects that--
(1) provide the greatest benefit to the greatest number of
people within an underserved or disadvantaged community;
(2) incorporate renewable energy resources;
(3) maximize local job creation, particularly among low-
income, women, and minority workers; or
(4) utilize or involve locally owned small and
disadvantaged businesses, including women and minority-owned
businesses.
(e) Eligible Entities.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible for a grant or technical
assistance under the EV Charging Equity Program, an entity
shall be--
(A) an individual or household that is the owner of
where a project will be carried out;
(B) a State, local, Tribal, or Territorial
government, or an agency or department thereof;
(C) an electric utility, including--
(i) a municipally owned electric utility;
(ii) a publicly-owned electric utility;
(iii) an investor-owned utility; and
(iv) a rural electric cooperative;
(D) a nonprofit organization or institution;
(E) a public housing authority;
(F) an institution of higher education (as defined
in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 22 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1001);
(G) a local small or disadvantaged business; or
(H) a partnership between any number of eligible
entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (G).
(2) Updates.--The Secretary may add to or otherwise revise
the list of eligible entities under paragraph (1) if the
Secretary determines that such an addition or revision would be
beneficial to increasing deployment and accessibility of
electric vehicle charging infrastructure in underserved or
disadvantaged communities.
(f) Public Notice and Request for Applications.--The Secretary
shall publish in the Federal Register, and such other publications as
the Secretary considers to be appropriate, a notice and request for
applications to carry out projects under the EV Charging Equity
Program.
(g) Education and Outreach.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the EV Charging Equity
Program, the Secretary shall establish an education and
outreach component of such Program to ensure that information
regarding such Program and the benefits and opportunities for
electric vehicle charging is made available to individuals and
relevant entities that live within or serve underserved or
disadvantaged communities.
(2) Requirements.--At a minimum, the education and outreach
component of the EV Charging Equity Program established under
this subsection shall include--
(A) the development and dissemination of an
electric vehicle charging resource guide that is--
(i) maintained electronically on a website;
(ii) available to the public, free of
charge; and
(iii) directed specifically towards
individuals and relevant entities that live
within or serve underserved or disadvantaged
communities;
(B) targeted outreach towards, and coordinated
public outreach with, relevant local, State, and Tribal
entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of
higher education, that are located within or serve
underserved or disadvantaged communities; and
(C) any other such forms of education or outreach
as the Secretary determines appropriate to increase
awareness of and access to the EV Charging Equity
Program.
(h) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the EV
Charging Equity Program is established under this section, and not less
frequently than once every 2 years after that, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of
the Senate, and make publicly available, a report on the status of the
EV Charging Equity Program, including a list and description of
projects that have received grant awards or technical assistance, and
of the funding or assistance provided to such projects.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $96,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2021 through 2030.
SEC. 5. ENSURING PROGRAM BENEFITS FOR UNDERSERVED AND DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES.
In administering a relevant program, the Secretary shall, to the
extent practicable, invest or direct available and relevant
programmatic resources so that such program--
(1) promotes electric vehicle charging infrastructure;
(2) supports clean and multi-modal transportation;
(3) provides improved air quality and emissions reductions;
and
(4) prioritizes the needs of underserved or disadvantaged
communities.
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Electric vehicle charging infrastructure.--The term
``electric vehicle charging infrastructure'' means electric
vehicle supply equipment, including any conductors, electric
vehicle connectors, attachment plugs, and all other fittings,
devices, power outlets, or apparatuses installed specifically
for the purposes of delivering energy to an electric vehicle.
(2) Publicly accessible.--The term ``publicly accessible''
means, with respect to electric vehicle charging
infrastructure, electric vehicle charging infrastructure that
is available, at zero or reasonable cost, to members of the
public for the purpose of charging a privately owned or leased
electric vehicle, or electric vehicle that is available for use
by members of the general public as part of a ride service or
vehicle sharing service or program, including within or
around--
(A) public sidewalks and streets;
(B) public parks;
(C) public buildings, including--
(i) libraries;
(ii) schools; and
(iii) government offices;
(D) public parking;
(E) shopping centers; and
(F) commuter transit hubs.
(3) Relevant program.--The term ``relevant program'' means
a program of the Department of Energy, including--
(A) the State energy program under part D of title
III the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C.
6321 et seq.);
(B) the Clean Cities program;
(C) the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block
Grant Program established under section 542 of the
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C.
17152);
(D) loan guarantees made pursuant to title XVII of
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16511 et
seq.); and
(E) such other programs as the Secretary determines
appropriate.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(5) Underserved or disadvantaged community.--The term
``underserved or disadvantaged community'' means a community
located within a ZIP Code or census tract that is identified
as--
(A) a low-income community;
(B) a community of color;
(C) a Tribal community;
(D) having a disproportionately low number of
electric vehicle charging stations per capita, compared
to similar areas; or
(E) any other community that the Secretary
determines is disproportionately vulnerable to, or
bears a disproportionate burden of, any combination of
economic, social, environmental, and climate stressors.
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