Millions in federal dollars ride on KDOT changing your mind about electric vehicles
GUEST COLUMN, Dane Hicks, Kaninfo.com
The Kansas Department of Transportation is pushing hard for public input to let the state tap federal funds for the development of a Kansas electric vehicle infrastructure plan, hoping to access millions of dollars set aside by the Biden Administration to promote EVs. But unlike the movie Field Of Dreams, the unpopularity of EVs so far questions the idea that “if you build it, they will come.”
KDOT circulated a press release this week requesting public feedback on EV charging in order to help create the state’s infrastructure plan to service electric vehicles. Each state is required to develop a national electric vehicle infrastructure (NEVI) plan, funded by the green energy elements of Biden’s massive $2.1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act from 2021. Kansas may receive up to $40 million dollars of those EV targeted funds over 5 years, and localities can apply for extra cash through $2.5 billion in additional discretionary programs.
