White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA)
Economic Development, Energy, and Infrastructure Committee
2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit

NATIONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) INITIATIVE FOR TRIBAL NATIONSParticipating Agencies
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. Department of Transportation
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. General Services Administration
Introduction
Today, the U.S. government is releasing a National Electric Vehicle (EV) Initiative for Tribal
Nations, which will ensure Tribes and Native communities are included in the EV future of thecountry and that the buildout of a national EV network includes Tribal lands and economies.
President Biden set an ambitious target and roadmap to get to 50% EV sale shares in the UnitedStates by 2030. Widespread adoption of EVs is necessary for reducing transportation emissions,which made up 27% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2020. The President’s Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law (BIL) included a down payment on the EV future, with more than $7 billion
in funding to secure an American EV supply chain, from materials processing to battery
manufacturing and recycling, along with $7.5 billion to build out the first-ever nationwide public
EV charging network of 500,000 EV chargers. This will accelerate the adoption of EVs, fight theclimate crisis, and support domestic manufacturing jobs.
One of the key funding components is BIL’s establishment of a new National Electric Vehicle
Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, making $5 billion available for building out thenational EV charging network. The program helps states create a network of charging stations
along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors, particularly along the Interstate Highway System.
10% of that $5 billion is set aside for the Secretary of Transportation to provide discretionary
grants to states or localities to help fill gaps in the national network. An additional $2.5 billion in
NEVI discretionary community grants is available for EV charging, as well as hydrogen, naturalgas, and propane fueling infrastructure. DOT is currently in the process of developing minimum
standards to help ensure the national EV charging network is user-friendly, reliable, accessible toall Americans, and interoperable between different charging companies, with similar payment
systems, pricing information, and charging speeds.
In addition, BIL provides over $18 billion for specific vehicles to transition to electric, including
school buses, transit buses, and passenger ferries to reduce emissions for their riders. In August1

White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA)
Economic Development, Energy, and Infrastructure Committee
2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit

2022, the Administration announced the first allocations for the Low- and No-Emission Transit
Bus Program, which in one funding cycle will nearly double the number of electric transit buseson America’s roads. In October 2022, the Administration announced almost $1 billion in Clean
School Bus rebates going to nearly 400 school districts across the country, including districts
serving Tribal students.
In August 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act, which is the largest
investment in history to build a clean energy economy, tackle the climate crisis, and lower
households’ energy costs—providing $369 billion in clean energy and climate investments.
Specific to EVs, Americans can receive up to $7,500 in tax credits for new electric vehicles and$4,000 for used electric vehicles.
Together, these investments aim to make electric vehicles accessible to all Americans, create
good-paying jobs across the country, and ensure a convenient, reliable, affordable, and equitablecharging experience for all users.
Tribal Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
Until today, there has not yet been a clear, specific, national plan for deployment of EV
infrastructure to Indian country and Alaska Native communities. The goals of this EV initiative
are to ensure that: Tribal Nations are part of the EV future of the country; federal resources for
EV development are equitably shared and supportive of Tribal economies; and the physicalbuildout of a national EV network includes Tribal lands and Native communities.
Historic infrastructure inequities have long barred economic development opportunities in many
American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Tribal infrastructure needs are larger than thescope of this initiative, and they will continue to require significant financial resources andtechnical assistance. As EVs begin to shape the future of transportation, energy, and economic
opportunity in communities, we must work with Tribal leaders and Tribal citizens to include
Tribes within a national network of EV infrastructure.
Tribal Nations, as sovereigns and in furtherance of their territorial sovereignty, often invest
substantial resources into developing their on-reservation economies: planning, design, financial
investment, and development efforts to create economic centers; the construction of necessary
infrastructure to support economic activities; the provision of critical Tribal government services
and amenities; and the comprehensive regulation of all aspects of land management, leasing, andcommercial activities pursuant to Tribal law.
There is a direct connection between transportation needs and day-to-day government services
and economic opportunity in Indian country and Alaska Native communities: government
vehicles; police, fire, and emergency services; travel for business, trade, and tourism; bustransportation for Tribal schools; and daily commutes for employment, education, health care,and elder care. All of these are implicated in growing the national EV economy. EV
infrastructure is also part of the President’s larger strategy to invest in and deliver an equitable2White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA)
Economic Development, Energy, and Infrastructure Committee
2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit

clean energy future, including by ensuring that investments in the clean energy economy reach
Tribal lands.
Tribal Nations are also uniquely positioned for EV infrastructure investment and deployment
under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (“FAST”) Act of 2015, which authorized
GSA and other federal agencies to install, operate, and maintain EV charging stations in parking
areas under federal agency jurisdiction (i.e., at federal buildings). GSA, DOI, HHS, and USDA
operate the majority of federal buildings serving Tribal communities.
Specific Agency Commitments
To further EV infrastructure investment and deployment for Tribal communities, theparticipating agencies in this initiative propose the commitments listed below and will work in
consultation with Tribal Nations on design and implementation.
This initiative will require agencies to map the proposed deployment of infrastructure, provide
technical assistance to access that funding, support training and certification of workers installing
EV supply equipment, and consult with Tribes and engage other stakeholders throughout theprocess.
Participating agencies make the additional following commitments:•DOI and DOT will map Tribal Nations within NEVI’s geographic constraints. Using thisdata, agencies will consult with Tribes on how to deploy infrastructure for Tribes withinthose statutory, geographic constraints.

•DOT will provide technical assistance to Tribes on how to nominate Alternative FuelCorridors for Secretarial consideration and approval.

•GSA, with assistance from DOI and HHS, will provide a map of all federal facilities andfederal occupants in Indian Country under its jurisdiction. Using this data, allparticipating agencies will consult with Tribes on how FAST Act authority may be used
to install, operate, and maintain EV charging stations within those facilities in IndianCountry and Native communities.

•GSA will assist Tribes in purchasing or leasing EVs from GSA by leveraging theirauthorities under federal law, allowing Tribes to acquire EVs at highly discounted prices
and lease vehicles at a lower rate. GSA will create informational guides and materials anddeliver customized training to Tribes to further this initiative.

•For the 10% of $5 billion in grants to states or localities requiring additional assistance tostrategically deploy electrical vehicle infrastructure: based on identified gaps in thenational network, DOT will give priority to rural and underserved areas, including
projects conducted by states and localities that will serve Tribal communities.
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White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA)
Economic Development, Energy, and Infrastructure Committee
2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit•

For the $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant
Program, DOT will prioritize projects that will serve rural and underserved areas,including Tribal lands and Native communities.

•DOT will provide technical assistance to Tribes to take advantage of the $2.5 billion
Discretionary Grant Program for Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) for Tribal EV
infrastructure.

•DOT will review and update its EV Toolkit to include specific sections addressing Tribal
lands to ensure Tribal Nations have access to the most up-to-date resources for deploying
EV infrastructure.

•DOT will consult with Tribal nations to consider updates to the NEVI State EV Charging
Infrastructure Plan certification process to improve Tribal input.

•DOT will add topics on Tribal EV infrastructure to the technical assistance it provides tostates.

•DOE will support Tribal Nations’ roles in the EV battery supply chain through BIL
funding opportunities supporting battery manufacturing, recycling, and materialprocessing. Specifically, DOE will establish program guidance to improve engagementwith Tribal governments and communities, Tribal workforce development, andcommunity benefits agreements in funding applications relevant to Tribal Nations’concerns.

•DOE Loans Programs Office (LPO) will offer loans and loan guarantees through theDOE Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program (TELGP) and hold an informationalsession promoting the $20 billion in loan authority and its applicability to EV investment
infrastructure deployment for Tribes.

•DOE Office of Indian Energy will continue providing financial and technical assistanceopportunities that promote affordable and reliable electricity access to support EV
infrastructure adoption.

•DOE will work with Clean Cities coalitions through the Clean Cities Energy andEnvironmental Initiative to develop local partnerships with Tribal communities, facilitatecommunity engagement, and provide technical assistance related to EVs and EV
infrastructure deployment.

•DOE will coordinate with other agencies to enhance Tribal awareness, accessibility andengagement with relevant requests for information (RFI), notices of intent (NOI), andfunding opportunities related to EV infrastructure deployment.

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White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA)
Economic Development, Energy, and Infrastructure Committee
2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit•

The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation will develop, host, and update a Tribal
resources page on driveelectric.gov to provide education, technical assistance, andinformation on funding opportunities for Tribes to deploy EV infrastructure.

•ED will consult with Tribal Colleges and Universities on implementing an ElectricVehicle Infrastructure Training Programs (EVITP) to support training and certification ofworkers installing EV supply equipment. As part of that consultation, DOL will provide
technical assistance on open educational resources related to electric vehicles developed
through the Department’s community college investments.

•DOL will conduct direct outreach to Tribes, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other
Tribal organization applicants for the planned Building Pathways to Infrastructure
Careers grant program, which will competitively award funds for sector-based training
programs across infrastructure-related sectors, including training for professional,
scientific, and technical occupations that support renewable energy.

•DOL will continue to engage with Tribes, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other
Tribal organizations to promote Registered Apprenticeships as a workforce strategy,
including opportunities for expanding Registered Apprenticeship Programs in the EVindustry.

•EPA, through the $5 billion received from the BIL, will implement the Clean School Bus
Program to develop and replace existing diesel school buses with low or zero emission
school buses. The program prioritizes Tribal schools, applicants requesting funds for newschool buses that serve BIA-funded school districts, and school districts that receive basic
support payments for children who reside on Indian lands.

•USDA will prepare a Tribal EV Companion to DOT’s Rural EV Toolkit featuring
examples of EV charging station projects and collaborations across Indian Country andNative communities.

•USDA will conduct outreach to Tribes about USDA programs under the Rural Housing
Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and the Rural Utilities Service-Electric
Program that can support EV charging station infrastructure, related businesses, and EV
buses and agricultural vehicles.

•USDA will consult with Tribal governments regarding USDA’s Rural Development
programs funded in the Inflation Reduction Act and how they may be used to support thedevelopment of EV charging infrastructure on Tribal lands and in Native communities.

•HUD will develop guidance outlining how Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) andIndian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) funds could be used by Tribes toinstall EV charging stations.

5White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA)
Economic Development, Energy, and Infrastructure Committee
2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit

Tribal Consultation
In accordance with Executive Order 13175 and the Presidential Memorandum of January 26,
2021 (Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships), the participating
agencies shall conduct timely consultations with Tribal Nations to obtain their comments andrecommendations regarding implementation of this initiative. Tribal consultation andengagement shall continue as the strategies outlined by this initiative are developed andimplemented.

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