Seriously, why is the AFP even bothering? Biden is gone in just over a month
Posts misrepresent progress of EV charging network under Biden
A 2021 federal infrastructure bill allocated funds to build a network of electric vehicle charging points across the United States by 2030. But social media claims that the Biden administration spent $7.5 billion for just eight stations are false; after a slow rollout, 37 stations across 13 states are currently in operation, with hundreds more in the works from funding that has been appropriated but not yet spent.
“Pete Buttigieg will leave his post as Transportation Secretary having spent $7.5 BILLION to build 8 EV charging stations. His legacy will be squandering billions on something nobody wants, while millions struggle to afford the things they need,” a November 24 post on X says.
AFP found additional post on X, Instagram and Facebook claiming only seven or eight charging stations resulted from the billions in funding nationwide.
OK, so, there are now a total of 37 charging stations from a law signed in November 2021. Really? Three years later and it is just 37? The Empire State Building was put up in 410 days. Seriously, as of March 2024 there were only 7 as pointed out by the Federal Highway Administration in the ultra-Conservative Washington Post.
According to the FHWA’s latest data, received by email on December 9, projects are underway for 24,800 federally funded chargers, of which 226 were operational at 37 stations across 13 states.
Most of the network’s stations are to be built in the second half of the decade, Buttigieg said on November 25, in response to critics online (archived here).
Really? Wasn’t it like super-important at the time of passage to get those chargers in place to help accelerate the switchover to EVs? And now they are going to be in the 2nd half of the decade?
(US DOT) “We are embarking on a transformative path to modernize the way we get to around in this country, making sure all Americans have the option to choose electric vehicles and spend less at the pump while making our air healthier,” said Secretary Granholm. “Our two agencies will work together to deliver on President Biden’s historic investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, starting today with a joint project to build hundreds of thousands of electric vehicle charging stations, to tackle the climate crisis and create manufacturing and construction jobs at the same time.”
“Transportation is responsible for the most greenhouse gas emissions of any sector in our economy – so it can and must be a big part of the solution to the climate crisis,” said Secretary Buttigieg. “With this announcement by DOT and DOE, we are taking a big step forward on climate by helping make the benefits of EVs more accessible for all Americans.”
I guess their excitement in 2021 wasn’t to actually get them done. Which will be complete first, the chargers or California’s highspeed train?
Trump is planning to nix the contract for the 60,000 way overpriced EV postal delivery trucks along with the $7,500 personal tax credit giveaway for consumer EVs.
Good start! And it doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime.
Bwaha! Lolgf!
MAGA47 Motherfuckers!