Colorado has teamed up with 16 other states to take legal action against the Trump administration for withholding billions of dollars approved by Congress to establish charging stations for electric vehicles.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser emphasized that the state could lose out on significant funding essential for expanding the infrastructure required to support the growth of electric vehicles.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Washington state.
Weiser stated, “Colorado has made substantial strides in laying the groundwork for electric vehicle infrastructure, with federally approved plans aimed at bridging gaps in rural and underserved communities.”
President Donald Trump’s executive order titled “Unleashing American Energy” on the first day of his second term included the elimination of the “electric vehicle” mandate to ensure a fair regulatory environment for consumer vehicle choices.
Weiser criticized the Trump administration and the Department of Transportation for revoking funding authorized by Congress for electric vehicle infrastructure.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated $5 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (NEVI) to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure across states. However, the Trump administration halted states from utilizing the NEVI funds as directed by former President Joe Biden.
The Biden administration set a goal for electric vehicles to constitute half of new car sales by 2030.
Colorado had plans to spend $57 million on electric vehicle infrastructure, with $44 million federally approved for the period 2022 to 2025. Despite awarding $33 million and guaranteeing $18 million in contracts, only $8 million has been distributed by the federal government, leading to uncertainty.
The state aims to have over 2 million electric cars and SUVs on its roads by 2035, with programs and incentives in place to promote electric vehicle adoption.
Colorado currently boasts more than 5,600 charging stations and nearly 179,000 registered electric vehicles.
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