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CNB MPO unanimously approves TIP amendment to back NEVI EV charger grants ahead of Buy America deadline
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Summary
The CNB MPO voted unanimously to adopt a TIP amendment enabling roughly $44 million in phase 1b NEVI grants for electric-vehicle chargers to be obligated under the current 55% domestic-content rule before a proposed U.S. DOT change would raise the requirement to 100%.
The CNB MPO on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution to amend the Transportation Improvement Program to allow awarding roughly $44,000,000 in phase 1b National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) grants to install electric-vehicle chargers in the region, members heard.
Rich Donovan, a presenter for the MPO, told members the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act authorized about $55,000,000 for Connecticut and that ConnDOT planned to distribute that funding as grants to public and private entities to install chargers along the state's alternative-fuel corridors, including Interstate 84 and selected sites in Waterbury. "If these funds are not obligated by Thursday, March 12, then it is unlikely that they will be able to be implemented in a reasonable time frame," Donovan said, urging the MPO to endorse awarding the next $44,000,000 of phase 1b under the current 55% domestic-content standard.
The urgency stems from a U.S. Department of Transportation notice of proposed rulemaking to change domestic-content requirements for federally funded EV chargers from 55% to 100%. Donovan said no charger currently meets a 100% U.S.-made-components standard and that the proposed change could make implementation impractical for the projects now in line for awards.
Ray Rogozinski, an alternate for the city of Bristol, raised a procedural objection to the rule change, saying the stricter Buy America requirement could have the effect of canceling planned awards. "The buy American, 100% content was just a side door to cancel the program," Rogozinski said.
With no one opposing the motion, Mayor Dunn moved to adopt "the CNB MPO resolution 20 26 0 7 TIP amendments for project 0 1 7 0 3 7 9 5," a motion that was seconded by Bristol. The Chair called the question and the motion passed unanimously. The vote as recorded in the meeting was announced as unanimous; individual roll-call votes were not read into the record.
The MPO did not detail which specific applicants or sites would receive grant awards beyond the reference to phase 1b and selected Waterbury locations. Donovan said ConnDOT requested the endorsement to allow grants to be implemented under the existing 55% rule before any final federal change took effect.
After the vote the body moved and approved an adjournment. The MPO did not schedule a follow-up in the transcript; staff and ConnDOT will be responsible for finalizing obligations and awards under the approved TIP amendment.
