Biden Administration Plans for 500,000 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

The Biden administration this week took ambitious steps toward a new era of automobile transportation in the United States.

1 minute read

December 15, 2021, 10:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Washington State Electric Car Infrastructure

Heidi Ihnen Photography / Shutterstock

"The Biden administration today released a road map for building out a national network of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations as part of its plan to combat climate change," reports Arianna Skibell for E&E News.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, approved by Congress in November, enabled the charging station plan, according to Skibell. Two packages of money will fund the cause: $5 billion for state transportation departments to support the expansion and an "additional $2.5 billion is also available in grant opportunities to help connect rural and marginalized communities to electric vehicles," according to Ley.

At the federal level, a new electric vehicle office, shared between the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Energy, will coordinate the work. "Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are expected to sign [December 14] an agreement authorizing their offices to leverage resources to expand EV infrastructure across the country," reports Ley.

Additional coverage of the electric vehicle charging bill is available from an article by Matthew Daly for the Associated Press.

Monday, December 13, 2021 in E&E News

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A rendering of a high speed rain station in California, with wide platforms and a sleep train with yellow highlights.

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal

Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.

October 30 - Cal Matters

 A bridge stretches across the Missouri River at Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states

Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.

October 30 - South Dakota Searchlight

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30 - Yale Environment 360