Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Grant Program Act of 2022
This bill requires the Department of Transportation to establish the Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Grant Program to award grants on a competitive basis for projects to construct, install, or improve existing wireless charging infrastructure and technology for electric vehicles.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6546 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6546
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a Wireless
Electric Vehicle Charging Grant Program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 1, 2022
Mrs. Lawrence (for herself, Ms. Stevens, Ms. Titus, Mrs. Carolyn B.
Maloney of New York, Mr. Vargas, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Danny K. Davis of
Illinois, and Ms. Castor of Florida) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in
addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a Wireless
Electric Vehicle Charging Grant Program, 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 ``Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging
Grant Program Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Electric vehicles are crucial to cutting greenhouse gas
emissions, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and combating the
climate crisis. As of 2019, the transportation sector accounts
for 29 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, which is the
most of any sector.
(2) Increasing the adoption of electric vehicles will
reduce pollution and increase air quality for communities
located near roads with high traffic density or high-volume
routes.
(3) As the automotive industry shifts towards electric
vehicles, investing in new electric vehicle technologies will
be crucial to enhancing America's competitiveness, creating
jobs, and ensuring continued economic growth.
(4) Range anxiety is one of the chief barriers to electric
vehicle adoption. If deployed strategically, wireless electric
vehicle charging could help by providing drivers convenient
opportunities to charge and extend the range of electric
vehicles.
(5) Wireless charging technologies could be invaluable for
electric transit buses, trucking, fleet vehicles, and
autonomous electric vehicles, allowing for convenient and
hands-free charging, while also lowering costs, as effective
wireless charging would reduce the need for larger and heavier
batteries.
(6) Wireless electric vehicle charging has the potential to
make electric vehicles more accessible and allow all people of
the United States, regardless of physical ability, to enjoy the
benefits of electric vehicles.
(7) It is critical to establish a resilient and robust
domestic supply chain for all electric vehicle charging
infrastructure. With strong Buy America requirements, federally
funded programs can incentivize companies to build facilities
in the United States, creating good paying jobs and economic
growth for communities.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF WIRELESS ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING GRANT
PROGRAM.
The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a program, in
coordination with the Department of Energy, to award grants on a
competitive basis to eligible entities for projects to construct,
install, or improve existing wireless charging infrastructure and
technology for electric vehicles. The program shall be known as the
Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Grant Program (in this Act referred
to as the ``Program'').
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF SECRETARY.
In carrying out the Program, the Secretary--
(1) may award grants for projects described in section 3,
including for wireless charging located along roads, in parking
lots, airports, and at coastal and inland ports;
(2) shall ensure that recipients of the grants focus on the
wireless charging of 1 or more of--
(A) light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles;
(B) fleet vehicles, including the Federal vehicle
fleets; and
(C) public transit;
(3) shall publish an annual progress report to the relevant
committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate that
includes--
(A) a description of recipients of grants, amount
disbursed, and reasons for the selection of projects;
(B) the progress of each pilot project funded under
the Program;
(C) successes, failures, and safety of the
technologies funded under the Program;
(D) recommendations for future funding, best
practices, and policies relating to wireless electric
vehicle charging;
(E) workforce impacts of each project;
(F) the environmental impact of each project, such
as the amount of fuel saved from the project, predicted
emissions savings, changes in air quality, and any
other environmental information deemed necessary by the
Secretary; and
(G) any other information the Secretary considers
necessary; and
(4) may provide technical assistance, as determined
appropriate by the Secretary to eligible entities with respect
to activities described in paragraph (1).
SEC. 5. GRANT RECIPIENTS.
(a) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible for a grant or technical
assistance under the Program, an entity shall be, or be partnered with,
any of the following:
(1) A State, local, Tribal, or territorial government.
(2) A Metropolitan Planning Organization.
(3) A special purpose district or public authority with a
transportation function.
(4) A transit agency.
(b) Geographic Diversity.--In selecting eligible entities to
receive grants under the Program, the Secretary shall prioritize
geographical diversity.
(c) Additional Grant Amounts.--An eligible entity may receive a
grant from a State, local, Tribal, or territorial government to carry
out similar activities as the activities funded under the Program.
(d) Workforce Development and Training.--Eligible entities may use
a portion of their grant to cover costs associated with training
workers to construct, install, maintain, or operate the projects.
(e) Community Engagement.--Eligible entities may use a portion of
their grant to cover costs associated with engaging the communities and
affected workers, such as drivers, on the planning and design of the
project and educating the public on the project.
SEC. 6. COST SHARE.
(a) Federal Share.--The Federal share of a grant awarded under the
Program may not exceed 80 percent of total cost of the project.
(b) Maximum Grant Amount.--The amount of a grant awarded to an
eligible entity under the Program may not exceed $5,000,000.
SEC. 7. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Priority.--In awarding the grants under the Program, the
Secretary shall prioritize projects that--
(1) focus on non-disruptive designs that are compatible
with existing infrastructure and beneficial to the public,
including for low income, underserved, or disadvantaged
communities;
(2) focus on cost-effective, energy-efficient, and
environmentally sustainable technologies for public use;
(3) focus on compatibility with the entire range of
electric vehicles and with, if determined appropriate by the
Secretary, developing and evolving universal wireless charging
standards;
(4) focus on safe designs that are compatible with frequent
use in a variety of weather conditions and road maintenance
activities;
(5) are carried out by entities that emphasize diversity,
equity, and inclusion in the eligible entity's workforce and
business practices;
(6) are likely to leverage Federal investment by
encouraging non-Federal contributions to the project, including
projects from public-private partnerships;
(7) have State, local, Tribal, or territorial government
support;
(8) have an outreach strategy to inform and educate the
public on project benefits and uses before, during, and after
the construction of the projects; and
(9) have an inclusive plan to engage and ensure that the
surrounding communities and impacted workers, such as the
drivers of the vehicles, are included in the planning and
design process.
(b) Wage Rate Requirement.--The Secretary shall require that each
recipient of a grant under the Program provides reasonable assurances
that all laborers and mechanics employed to carry out the projects for
which the assistance is provided, including laborers and mechanics
employed by contractors or subcontractors, will be paid wages at rates
not less than those for similar work in the locality as determined by
the Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31
of title 40, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Davis-
Bacon Act'').
(c) Neutrality Toward Organized Labor.--The recipient of grants
under the Program shall have, and ensure that all employed by
contractors and subcontractors of the covered entity with respect to
the covered activities have--
(1) an explicit policy of neutrality with regard to--
(A) labor organizing for the employees engaged in
the covered activities; and
(B) such employees' choice to form and join labor
organizations; and
(2) policies that require--
(A) the posting and maintenance of notices in the
workplace to such employees of their rights under the
National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.);
and
(B) that such employees are, at the beginning of
their employment, provided notice and information
regarding the employees' rights under such Act.
(d) Buy America.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
recipients of grants under the Program shall comply with the
requirements described in section 5323(j) of title 49, United
States Code.
(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may provide any waiver to the
requirements described in paragraph (1) in the same manner and
to the same extent as the Secretary of Transportation may
provide a waiver under section 5323(j)(2) of title 49, United
States Code.
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Electric vehicle.--The term ``electric vehicle'' means
a zero-emission vehicle powered by an electric battery and
train.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of title 23, United States Code.
(3) Wireless charging.--The term ``wireless charging''
means the charging of a battery by inductive charging or by any
means in which a battery is charged without a wire, or plug-in
wire, connecting the power source and battery.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 to carry out
this Act, to remain available until expended.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
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