On September 27, SEMCOG in collaboration with Clean Fuels Michigan held a webinar on “Bringing BIL Benefits to Michigan Communities.” Here is a recap of what was shared at the webinar.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
The passage of BIL – a once-in-a-generation investment in the nation’s infrastructure – on November 15, 2021, marked a historical moment for America. BIL has been designed to rebuild and upgrade America’s roads, bridges, rails, and airports, expand access to clean drinking water, ensure access to high-speed internet, tackle the climate crisis, build resilient infrastructure, advance environmental justice, and invest in communities that have often been left behind.
Figure 1 Source: The White House
BIL includes significant funding opportunities intended to accelerate the transition from internal combustion engines to clean mobility alternatives and support the deployment of required charging infrastructure. These opportunities can be accessed through a number of Formula-Based allocations, Loans, and Competitive Grants programs.
The State of Michigan has actively worked to ensure it is well-positioned to receive resources through BIL, indicated Zachary Kolodin, the chief infrastructure officer at Michigan Infrastructure Office (MIO). The governor established the MIO to coordinate state departments efforts specifically to most efficiently and effectively plan for and execute the BIL, Zack added.
To help communities prepare for these federal funding opportunities, Jessica Crawford, the community programs coordinator with the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), highlighted multiple federal funding rules:
- System for Award Management
- Davis-Bacon and related Acts
- Build America, Buy America as well as the
- Federal Highway Administration Proposed Waiver for Electric Vehicle Chargers.
- Links to additional federal funding rules can be found in the webinar presentation slides.
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program
The NEVI – one of the formula-based programs resulting from the BIL, and administered at the state level – is focused on providing funding to establish a convenient, reliable, affordable, and equitable EV charging network. Through this funding program, the State of Michigan is expected to receive $110 million over FY22-FY26. The State worked across different departments and has developed the NEVI-required statewide EV plan for Michigan. On September 14, 2022, the FHWA approved the Michigan EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan; as the result, Michigan is receiving $16,290,764 in FY 2022 to install electric DC Fast chargers at identified nodes along designated EV corridors (see figure 2).
Figure 2: NEVI Nodes Statewide – Source: EGLE
The State is in the process of determining its approach to managing the NEVI funds and determining various agencies’ responsibilities. The next steps for the State are to develop an RFP, application, and a checklist to help applicants develop applications that are complete and competitive, indicated Jessica Crawford with EGLE.
The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Competitive Grants (CFI)
Based on the preliminary details included in the BIL Guidebook, the CFI – one of the Competitive Grants programs resulting from the BIL – is focused on providing a total of $2.5 billion in funding to states or political subdivisions of states/metropolitan planning organizations/local governments/special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function/tribes/territories nationwide.
The CFI Competitive Grants funding is divided into two categories – $1.25 billion in Community Charging, as well as $1.25 billion in Corridor Charging. These grants are eligible to be spent on the acquisition and installation of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging or alternative fueling infrastructure, operating assistance (for the first 5 years after installation), acquisition, and installation of traffic control devices. There will be a 20% non-federal match requirement for both Community and Corridor Grants funding.
The Community Charging Grant
Program funds will be made available each fiscal year for Community Grants, to install electric vehicle charging and alternative fuel in locations on public roads, schools, parks, and publicly accessible parking facilities.
These grants will be prioritized for rural areas, low-and moderate-income neighborhoods, and communities with low ratios of private parking, or high ratios of multiunit dwellings.
The Corridor Charging Grant
Deploy electric vehicle charging and hydrogen/propane/natural gas-fueling infrastructure along designated alternative fuel corridors and in communities.
Resources
Taking advantage of federal opportunities under BIL requires well-thought-out project plans, community outreach, and recruitment of necessary stakeholder teams to demonstrate success. The importance of collaboration and coordination emerged as the main theme among all speakers’ recommendations to communities and organizations.
At this webinar, a number of resources were highlighted which can help communities prepare for and stay up to date on the BIL clean mobility funding opportunities including:
- The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation – The Joint Office was established to provide support and expertise to a multitude of programs that seek to deploy a network of EV chargers, zero-emission fueling infrastructure, and zero-emission transit and school buses.
- Southeast Michigan EV Resource Kit and Planning Hub – The EV Hub is a one-stop resource that provides local communities and stakeholders with quick access to key data and background information, the current status of infrastructure and deployment, community zoning and planning ordinances, funding opportunities, and local case studies and best practices related to EV.
Since its launch in April of 2021, this SEMCOG resource has received multiple awards, including the National Association of Regional Council (NARC) 2022 Award and the Esri Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) 2022 Award. One of the most recent awards received for this resource is the Outstanding Overall Achievement for a Transportation Management Area (TMA) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Award, announced on Thursday, Oct 27, 2022, at the AMPO 2022 Annual Conference in Minneapolis. Through this award, AMPO honors the efforts of a TMA/MPO that has successfully advanced and promoted metropolitan transportation planning.
For additional resources and information shared at this webinar, please go to the Bringing BIL Benefits to Michigan Communities Webinar recording.
Questions? Contact Beheshteh Makari at [email protected], Planner, SEMCOG Economic and Community Vitality.
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