WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $1,452,800 in federal funding to build 38 publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging ports across Henrico County and to plan for the future of EV infrastructure development. The ports will be spread across seven community facilities, such as libraries, government centers, and parks and recreation sites. The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program, which equalizes access to EV ports and other alternative fueling sources across America.?The CFI Program was created through the bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL), legislation strongly supported by Sens. Warner and Kaine.

“Electric vehicles have enormous potential to limit air pollution and cut carbon emissions, but we need widespread, accessible charging infrastructure so even more Virginians can make the switch,” said the senators. “We’re thrilled the bipartisan infrastructure law is expanding EV charging capacity in Henrico County, and we will continue working to make it affordable and convenient for Virginians to choose electric vehicles and other clean energy solutions.”

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to invest in a clean energy future. This funding represents some of the $7.5 billion authorized by the BIL to build electric vehicle charging stations across the country, with more grants still to be announced. In addition to competitive grants, Virginia is guaranteed to receive at least $106 million in formula funding over five years to build new EV charging stations. Across the board, the BIL has made several other investments in clean energy across the Commonwealth: the senators also recently celebrated over $17 million to buy 57 low- and no-emission school buses for Fairfax and Newport News Public Schools, $71 million to reduce power outages and allow more clean energy sources to reach the electric grid, $171 million for low- or no-emission public transit buses, and more. Additionally, the senators strongly supported the Inflation Reduction Act, which invests in both clean energy production and tax credits for Americans that make qualifying energy-efficient purchases. On Jan. 1, the IRA began allowing individuals that buy a new or used electric vehicle to receive a tax credit at the point-of-sale instead of having to wait to file their taxes.

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