Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ev Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
MassDOT says NEVI work continues but discretionary EV grants are on hold
Summary
MassDOT told a Senate committee that formula NEVI highway charging work is proceeding with about $50 million already obligated, but discretionary Charging and Fueling Infrastructure awards and some unobligated NEVI funds remain on hold pending federal guidance, creating uncertainty for community charging plans.
MassDOT highway division Director of Strategic Initiatives Andy Paul updated the committee on electric vehicle infrastructure federal funds and said Massachusetts has obligated roughly $50,000,000 under the NEVI program and is proceeding with four active contracts.
Paul said an additional $13,500,000 tied to federal fiscal year 2026 remains unobligated and a discretionary $14,400,000 CFI award announced in January is currently on hold; federal kickoff meetings were canceled and subsequent communications from federal officials have been limited. He told senators the federal hold has not disrupted work already covered by NEVI obligations and that the Federal Highway Administration's February 6 guidance allowed reimbursement for existing obligations “in order to not disrupt current financial commitments.”
On questions about project timing and procurement, Paul said MassDOT had not started CFI procurements before the pause and therefore has no vendor contract obligations tied to those discretionary dollars. He said NEVI-funded work along highways can continue to the extent obligations have already been made and that MassDOT is working with three private developers to deliver reliable fast-charging with contractual uptime requirements (97% uptime for five years) and a commercial horizon beyond the minimum five-year federal requirement.
Senators asked about other charging plans: MassDOT described separate procurement for service plazas on the Massachusetts Turnpike that bundles restaurants, retail and charging requirements into a single vendor contract for approximately 18–19 plazas (including locations in Newton, Lexington, Bridgewater, Beverly, Plymouth and Barnstable). Paul said the service-plaza procurement is distinct from NEVI and will include minimum operational and performance metrics; that contract is not a NEVI activity and is structured to create a revenue-generating public–private partnership rather than leaving the state responsible for profit-and-loss.
MassDOT and committee members discussed state alternatives if federal funds are delayed, including leveraging state right-of-way for solar and heat-pump deployment and using utility make-ready programs and ARPA funds for charging infrastructure. The department said it will continue pressing federal partners for clarity and proceed where obligations and reimbursements are already in place.
The committee asked MassDOT to provide an inventory of unobligated NEVI dollars, the status of any procurement, and a timeline for service-plaza procurement to help the legislature assess contingency funding needs.
