New EV charging stations in Iowa halted, {POLITICS}

[climateguy]

The point of trying to kickstart widespread acceptance of EVs by subsidizing the installation of public chargers is to address the changing climate.

The Trump approach is to pretend the issue doesn't exist. "Scientists brace ‘for the worst’ as Trump purges climate mentions from websites"

It is unfortunate that so many Americans have bought into the belief that nothing bad can come from continuing to treat Earth's atmosphere as a convenient garbage dump.

We are leaving our descendants a terrible legacy.

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[Maineiac12]

The point of trying to kickstart widespread acceptance of EVs by subsidizing the installation of public chargers is to address the changing climate.

The Trump approach is to pretend the issue doesn't exist. "Scientists brace ‘for the worst’ as Trump purges climate mentions from websites"

It is unfortunate that so many Americans have bought into the belief that nothing bad can come from continuing to treat Earth's atmosphere as a convenient garbage dump.

We are leaving our descendants a terrible legacy.

Sadly, a good majority of people who vote only care about themselves. They’ll all be dead when this stuff gets bad, so why should they care?

 

[Runaway Tractor]

Drivers face limited options? What did the big bad orange man take away today that they had when they bought their cars? Or last month? Or yesterday?

 

[chl]

The point of trying to kickstart widespread acceptance of EVs by subsidizing the installation of public chargers is to address the changing climate.

The Trump approach is to pretend the issue doesn't exist. "Scientists brace ‘for the worst’ as Trump purges climate mentions from websites"

It is unfortunate that so many Americans have bought into the belief that nothing bad can come from continuing to treat Earth's atmosphere as a convenient garbage dump.

We are leaving our descendants a terrible legacy.

The changes are still accelerating.

Anyone who has studied systems control/engineering knows what we have here seems to be an unstable system with too much positive feedback, and what the result will be eventually be if the acceleration continues - uncontrollable fluctuations and a runaway system until the crash.

Switching to renewables and EVs, etc. is an attempt to first reduce the rate of the man-made input of carbon into the atmosphere and ultimately eliminate it, carbon being the cause of the heating/overheating through the greenhouse effect, with the hope that then the carbon can be taken up by natural processes and the heat can dissipate into space before there is a global catastrophe...but it may be too late, if this system has reach the point of no return, to head off the ultimate "crash and burn."

The majority of humans seem unable to change their behavior until the last minute, which is often too late.

While what the government has tried to do in fits and starts is positive, there were contradictions if the goal was to save the planet. For example, the tariffs on Chinese made solar panels and EVs with the intent of creating US jobs and the unintended consequence of slowing the adoption of that technology by making it more expensive and out of the reach of many family budgets.

There is lots of room for criticism of both sides of the EV and renewable debate and policies.
Then there is the current extreme denialism.

One of human's many psychological 'defense mechanisms' is denial. Along with rationalization, procrastination, suppression/repression, and the one that appears to dominate now in the casa blanca which seems to be regression: "Returning to childlike behaviors or coping mechanisms."

Beam me up Scotty!

 

[Garyl]

I would like to point out that to the best of my knowledge, the thread title not withstanding, no state or federal law or executive order precludes the permitting, construction, or operation of a new DCFC facility in Iowa that is funded by a private or cooperate entity. I suggest that the title of the tread should reflect that.

 

[hturnerfamily]

also, anyone has the option to install, operate, or host DC Fast Charging, in any form or with any provider they like - these articles are only referring to 'money' that may slow, from government sources or programs, for those who RELY on it.
I've seen HUGE growth in many local, and very RURAL, DC Fast Chargers - gas stations, city parking lots, rural EMC offices, BURGER KING, and sometimes, in, well, desolate and vacated areas or parking lots that have actually NO OTHER BUSINESSES nearby. These are folks who just think it's not only a good idea, but also a profitable one.

 

[RailroaderJ]

Unfortunately a DCFC install is $50k

 

[chl]

The bi-partisan bill passed by congress and signed into law, bi-partisanly, allocated money in the form of grants to the states to subsidize EV charger infrastructure.

The States did not HAVE to apply for the grant money, and some notably did not.

The FHWA and DOT promulgated the NEVI formula and the rule 23 USC 104 required the Transportation Secretary to "make the prescribed apportionments to the States on a specific date and then make the funds available for obligation." Further "[a]s result of the rescission of the NEVI Formula Program Guidance, FHWA is also immediately suspending the approval of all State Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment plans for all fiscal years."

In other words, the new administration is not going to follow the rule and is rescinding "the current NEVI Formula Program Guidance dated June 11, 2024, and all prior versions of this guidance."

The States were entitled to have relied on the law passed bi-partisanly by congress and the rule that was promulgated according to the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), and an agency cannot simply rescind a rule, but has to propose a new rule, publish it for notice and comment, and then promulgate the new rule.

However, following the law is something that has become passe to the people now in charge it seems. Law suits will follow. Federal Judges will insist the laws of the United States be followed. We are not yet a 'kingdom' subject to edicts from on high.

The Worst part of this is that the article notes that the federal grant program helps states expand the EV infrastructure, which the state of Iowa wanted to do:

"...As of June 2023, the Iowa DOT estimates there are more than 12,000 electric vehicles in Iowa, with at least one in each county. There are currently 270 electric charging stations registered in Iowa. Local electric vehicle owners say that’s not enough.... Some were prepared for the increase in charging stations and had planned on them when switching to an electric vehicle. "

Thousands of citizens who own EVs will be adversely affected, including anyone in an EV who travels on I-80 across Iowa, a federal highway paid for and maintained by federal tax dollars.

I suppose we should be prepared for the possibility a similar thing will happen at the IRS and our tax returns that claim the EV tax credit will be rejected, and the tax credit "rescinded."

And more law suits will follow.

 

[Henry Ford]

Drivers face limited options? What did the big bad orange man take away today that they had when they bought their cars? Or last month? Or yesterday?

The promise of better EV charging infrastructure.

 

[Grumpy2]

What did the big bad orange man take away today that they had when they bought their cars? Or last month? Or yesterday?

He has taken away confidence that America is capable of doing the right thing. Remember when Republicans talked about a shinning city on a hill?

 

[Runaway Tractor]

The promise of better EV charging infrastructure.

Who promised them that?

He has taken away confidence that America is capable of doing the right thing. Remember when Republicans talked about a shinning city on a hill?

The right thing as defined by whom?

 

[Henry Ford]

Who promised them that?

Both Houses of Congress and the President of the United States of America.

 

[Runaway Tractor]

Both Houses of Congress and the President of the United States of America.

How so? I'm unfamiliar with this unilateral promise.

 

[Henry Ford]

How so? I'm unfamiliar with this unilateral promise.

Congress passes a bill, when the President signs it it becomes a law. This is how it worked in America from 1776 until 2024.

 

[Runaway Tractor]

Congress passes a bill, when the President signs it it becomes a law. This is how it worked in America from 1776 until 2024.

Aware. So back to my question, what promise was broken?

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