The grants will fund roughly 7,500 new chargers in neighborhoods and along key freeway corridors.

The Biden administration’s push to electrify the transportation sector continues with the announcement of $623 million in grants for electric car charging infrastructure.
According to Aarian Marshall and Matt Simon in Wired, “The funding is the latest chunk of change to be released from a total of $7.5 billion earmarked for charging and greener fueling in 2021’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.” The money is aimed at supporting the installation of 7,500 charging ports in primarily rural and low-income areas.
“The country currently has almost 161,000 charging ports, according to the US Department of Energy. A National Renewable Energy Laboratory study released last summer suggested the country will need 1.2 million by 2030 to meet demand from the growing national EV fleet.” Having a comprehensive network of accessible charging stations will help ease drivers’ concerns about driving range and encourage faster adoption of electric vehicles for consumers and commercial fleets. According to Marshall and Simon, “Emerging research suggests that just seeing chargers around makes drivers more likely to go electric.”
FULL STORY: The White House Just Announced a $623 Million EV-Charging Bonanza

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

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

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.

Restoring Northern India’s Himalayan ‘Water Temples’
Thousands of centuries-old buildings protect the region’s natural springs and serve as community wells and gathering places.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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