23 U.S.C. § 151 National Electric Vehicle Charging and Hydrogen, Propane, and Natural Gas Fueling Corridors

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-34 (published on www.congress.gov on 12/26/2023), except for [P. L. 118-31]
• Year: 2023
• Citation: 23 U.S.C. § 151

(a) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary shall periodically designate national electric vehicle charging and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling corridors that identify the near- and long-term need for, and location of, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, propane fueling infrastructure, and natural gas fueling infrastructure at strategic locations along major national highways to support changes in the transportation sector that help achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and improve the mobility of passenger and commercial vehicles that employ electric, hydrogen fuel cell, propane, and natural gas fueling technologies across the United States.

(b) DESIGNATION OF CORRIDORS.-In designating the corridors under subsection (a), the Secretary shall-

(1) solicit nominations from State and local officials for facilities to be included in the corridors;

(2) incorporate existing electric vehicle charging, hydrogen fueling, propane fueling, and natural gas fueling corridors previously designated by the Federal Highway Administration or designated by a State or group of States; and

(3) consider the demand for, and location of, existing electric vehicle charging stations, hydrogen fueling stations, propane fueling stations, and natural gas fueling infrastructure.

(c) STAKEHOLDERS.-In designating corridors under subsection (a), the Secretary shall involve, on a voluntary basis, stakeholders that include-

(1) the heads of other Federal agencies;

(2) State and local officials;

(3) representatives of-

(A) energy utilities;

(B) the electric, fuel cell electric, propane, and natural gas vehicle industries;

(C) the freight and shipping industry;

(D) clean technology firms;

(E) the hospitality industry;

(F) the restaurant industry;

(G) highway rest stop vendors; and

(H) industrial gas and hydrogen manufacturers; and

(4) such other stakeholders as the Secretary determines to be necessary.

(d) REDESIGNATION.-

(1) INITIAL REDESIGNATION.-Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021, the Secretary shall update and redesignate the corridors under subsection (a).

(2) SUBSEQUENT REDESIGNATION.-The Secretary shall establish a recurring process to regularly update and redesignate the corridors under subsection (a).

(e) REPORT.-During designation and redesignation of the corridors under this section, the Secretary shall issue a report that-

(1) identifies electric vehicle charging infrastructure, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, propane fueling infrastructure, and natural gas fueling infrastructure and standardization needs for electricity providers, industrial gas providers, natural gas providers, infrastructure providers, vehicle manufacturers, electricity purchasers, and natural gas purchasers;

(2) describes efforts, including through funds awarded through the grant program under subsection (f), that will aid efforts to achieve strategic deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, propane fueling infrastructure, and natural gas fueling infrastructure in those corridors; and

(3) summarizes best practices and provides guidance, developed through consultation with the Secretary of Energy, for project development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, propane fueling infrastructure and natural gas fueling infrastructure at the State, Tribal, and local level to allow for the predictable deployment of that infrastructure.

(f) GRANT PROGRAM.-

(1) DEFINITION OF PRIVATE ENTITY.-In this subsection, the term "private entity" means a corporation, partnership, company, or nonprofit organization.

(2) ESTABLISHMENT.-Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021, the Secretary shall establish a grant program to award grants to eligible entities to carry out the activities described in paragraph (6).

(3) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.-An entity eligible to receive a grant under this subsection is-

(A) a State or political subdivision of a State;

(B) a metropolitan planning organization;

(C) a unit of local government;

(D) a special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, including a port authority;

(E) an Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 ));

(F) a territory of the United States;

(G) an authority, agency, or instrumentality of, or an entity owned by, 1 or more entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F); or

(H) a group of entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (G).

(4) APPLICATIONS.-To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary shall require, including-

(A) a description of how the eligible entity has considered-

(i) public accessibility of charging or fueling infrastructure proposed to be funded with a grant under this subsection, including-

(I) charging or fueling connector types and publicly available information on real-time availability; and

(II) payment methods to ensure secure, convenient, fair, and equal access;

(ii) collaborative engagement with stakeholders (including automobile manufacturers, utilities, infrastructure providers, technology providers, electric charging, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fuel providers, metropolitan planning organizations, States, Indian tribes, and units of local governments, fleet owners, fleet managers, fuel station owners and operators, labor organizations, infrastructure construction and component parts suppliers, and multi-State and regional entities)-

(I) to foster enhanced, coordinated, public-private or private investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, propane fueling infrastructure, or natural gas fueling infrastructure;

(II) to expand deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, propane fueling infrastructure, or natural gas fueling infrastructure;

(III) to protect personal privacy and ensure cybersecurity; and

(IV) to ensure that a properly trained workforce is available to construct and install electric vehicle charging infrastructure, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, propane fueling infrastructure, or natural gas fueling infrastructure;

(iii) the location of the station or fueling site, such as consideration of-

(I) the availability of onsite amenities for vehicle operators, such as restrooms or food facilities;

(II) access in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.);

(III) height and fueling capacity requirements for facilities that charge or refuel large vehicles, such as semi-trailer trucks; and

(IV) appropriate distribution to avoid redundancy and fill charging or fueling gaps;

(iv) infrastructure installation that can be responsive to technology advancements, such as accommodating autonomous vehicles, vehicle-to-grid technology, and future charging methods; and

(v) the long-term operation and maintenance of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, propane fueling infrastructure, or natural gas fueling infrastructure, to avoid stranded assets and protect the investment of public funds in that infrastructure; and

(B) an assessment of the estimated emissions that will be reduced through the use of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, propane fueling infrastructure, or natural gas fueling infrastructure, which shall be conducted using the Alternative Fuel Life-Cycle Environmental and Economic Transportation (AFLEET) tool developed by Argonne National Laboratory (or a successor tool).