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Troy LDFA hears update on stalled federal grants for EV fast-charging; no local action taken
Summary
Board members were told multiple federal grant proposals for fast-charging stations were unsuccessful and that county priorities and technical hurdles have delayed local deployment. The LDFA did not adopt any new funding or direction at the meeting.
The Troy City Local Development Finance Authority received an update that federal funding requests for fast electric-vehicle charging stations were not funded and that continuing technical and funding hurdles have stalled local deployment. No formal action or funding commitment was made by the board.
A board member reported the county’s sustainability team reviewed the LDFA’s letter of interest and local proposals but that many applications across the region exceeded available funding. The speaker said, as an approximate figure, the federal program had about $3.2 billion in requests while allocating roughly $600 million — language the speaker qualified as an “about number, not an exact number.” The board member said several strong proposals, including some tied to Automation Alley, received high scores but were still not awarded funds.
Members said county staff also reported challenges completing required electrical studies and dealing with the cost of electricity at candidate sites. The county is prioritizing charging infrastructure for its own buildings and has limited capacity to support outside sites, the board was told.
Board members noted Automation Alley’s facilities had been considered part of the regional footprint for charging deployment but that the available federal money and timing meant the local opportunity had effectively passed for this grant round. One board member said the county’s new head of sustainability owns property in Troy and has been attending community meetings, which the member called a potential improvement in local coordination going forward.
Discussion concluded with members agreeing to keep the issue “top of mind” and to report back only if a new funding opportunity appears; no follow-up assignment or vote was recorded.
The update was presented as part of the board’s continuing review of old business; Automation Alley and county staff were referenced repeatedly but took no vote to authorize LDFA funding for EV charging at this meeting.
