Electric Vehicles for Underserved Communities Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.1221 | Sponsor: Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. (D-NY)
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Electric Vehicles for Underserved Communities Act of 2021
This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to support the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in underserved or disadvantaged communities.
Specifically, DOE must establish an EV Charging Equity Program. Under the program, DOE must provide technical assistance and award grants to increase the deployment and accessibility of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in such communities.
If practicable, DOE must ensure that relevant programs promote electric vehicle charging infrastructure, support clean and multimodal transportation, provide improved air quality and emissions reductions, and prioritize the needs of such communities.

To increase deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in 
    low-income communities and communities of color, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Electric Vehicles for Underserved 
Communities Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The transportation sector is the largest single source 
        of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
            (2) The transportation sector is also a major source of air 
        pollution in the United States, including over 55 percent of 
        total nitrogen oxide emissions, leading to poor air quality and 
        negative health impacts, particularly in urban areas.
            (3) Increasing the deployment of electric vehicles and 
        electric vehicle charging infrastructure is an essential 
        component of combating climate change, decarbonizing the 
        economy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and health-
        harming air pollution in the United States.
            (4) Industries relating to electric vehicles, electric 
        vehicle charging infrastructure, and the larger clean energy 
        economy are substantial and diverse sources of good jobs and 
        significant contributors to economic growth.
            (5) A substantial increase in electric vehicle charging 
        infrastructure, including publicly accessible charging 
        stations, will ensure that our communities are ready to meet 
        the demands of expected electric vehicle adoption as we 
        decarbonize our economy.
            (6) Low-income communities, communities of color, and 
        Tribal communities bear disproportionate climate change and 
        pollution burdens, yet have historically received the least 
        investment in clean technologies and resilient infrastructure. 
        Therefore, such communities must be among the first to receive 
        investment relating to new technologies and infrastructure that 
        address the climate crisis and mitigate localized environmental 
        pollution.

SEC. 3. EXPANDING ACCESS TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN UNDERSERVED AND 
              DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Assessment.--The Secretary shall conduct an assessment 
        of the state of, challenges to, and opportunities for the 
        deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in 
        underserved or disadvantaged communities located throughout the 
        United States.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
        Resources of the Senate a report on the results of the 
        assessment conducted under paragraph (1), which shall--
                    (A) describe the state of deployment of electric 
                vehicle charging infrastructure in underserved or 
                disadvantaged communities located in urban, suburban, 
                and rural areas, including description of--
                            (i) the state of deployment of electric 
                        vehicle charging infrastructure that is--
                                    (I) publicly accessible;
                                    (II) installed in or available to 
                                occupants of public and affordable 
                                housing;
                                    (III) installed in or available to 
                                occupants of multi-unit dwellings;
                                    (IV) available to public sector and 
                                commercial fleets; and
                                    (V) installed in or available at 
                                places of work;
                            (ii) policies, plans, and programs that 
                        cities, States, utilities, and private entities 
                        are using to encourage greater deployment and 
                        usage of electric vehicles and the associated 
                        electric vehicle charging infrastructure, 
                        including programs to encourage deployment of 
                        publicly accessible electric vehicle charging 
                        stations and electric vehicle charging stations 
                        available to residents in publicly owned and 
                        privately owned multi-unit dwellings;
                            (iii) ownership models for Level 2 charging 
                        stations and DC FAST charging stations located 
                        in residential multi-unit dwellings, commercial 
                        buildings, and publicly accessible areas;
                            (iv) mechanisms for financing electric 
                        vehicle charging stations; and
                            (v) rates charged for the use of Level 2 
                        charging stations and DC FAST charging 
                        stations;
                    (B) identify current barriers to expanding 
                deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure 
                in underserved or disadvantaged communities in urban, 
                suburban, and rural areas, including barriers to 
                expanding deployment of publicly accessible electric 
                vehicle charging infrastructure;
                    (C) identify the potential for, and barriers to, 
                recruiting and entering into contracts with locally 
                owned small and disadvantaged businesses, including 
                women and minority-owned businesses, to deploy electric 
                vehicle charging infrastructure in underserved or 
                disadvantaged communities in urban, suburban, and rural 
                areas;
                    (D) compile and provide an analysis of best 
                practices and policies used by State and local 
                governments, nonprofit organizations, and private 
                entities to increase deployment of electric vehicle 
                charging infrastructure in underserved or disadvantaged 
                communities in urban, suburban, and rural areas, 
                including best practices and policies relating to--
                            (i) public outreach and engagement;
                            (ii) increasing deployment of publicly 
                        accessible electric vehicle charging 
                        infrastructure; and
                            (iii) increasing deployment of electric 
                        vehicle charging infrastructure in publicly 
                        owned and privately owned multi-unit dwellings;
                    (E) to the extent practicable, enumerate and 
                identify in urban, suburban, and rural areas within 
                each State with detail at the level of ZIP Codes and 
                census tracts--
                            (i) the number of existing and planned 
                        publicly accessible Level 2 charging stations 
                        and DC FAST charging stations for individually 
                        owned light-duty and medium-duty electric 
                        vehicles;
                            (ii) the number of existing and planned 
                        Level 2 charging stations and DC FAST charging 
                        stations for public sector and commercial fleet 
                        electric vehicles and medium- and heavy-duty 
                        electric vehicles; and
                            (iii) the number and type of electric 
                        vehicle charging stations installed in or 
                        available to occupants of public and affordable 
                        housing; and
                    (F) describe the methodology used to obtain the 
                information provided in the report.
    (b) Five-Year Update Assessment.--Not later than 5 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
            (1) update the assessment conducted under subsection 
        (a)(1); and
            (2) make public and submit to the Committee on Energy and 
        Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
        Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report, which 
        shall--
                    (A) update the information required by subsection 
                (a)(2); and
                    (B) include a description of case studies and key 
                lessons learned after the date on which the report 
                under subsection (a)(2) was submitted with respect to 
                expanding the deployment of electric vehicle charging 
                infrastructure in underserved or disadvantaged 
                communities in urban, suburban, and rural areas.

SEC. 4. ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING EQUITY PROGRAM.

    (a) Program.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program, to be 
known as the EV Charging Equity Program, to increase deployment and 
accessibility of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in 
underserved or disadvantaged communities by--
            (1) providing technical assistance to eligible entities 
        described in subsection (e); and
            (2) awarding grants on a competitive basis to eligible 
        entities described in subsection (e) for projects that increase 
        such deployment and accessibility of electric vehicle charging 
        infrastructure, including projects that are--
                    (A) publicly accessible;
                    (B) located within or are easily accessible to 
                residents of--
                            (i) public or affordable housing;
                            (ii) multi-unit dwellings; or
                            (iii) single-family homes; and
                    (C) located within or easily accessible to places 
                of work, provided that such electric vehicle charging 
                infrastructure is accessible no fewer than 5 days per 
                week.
    (b) Cost Share.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        amount of a grant awarded under this section for a project 
        shall not exceed 80 percent of project costs.
            (2) Single-family homes.--The amount of a grant awarded 
        under this section for a project that involves, as a primary 
        focus, single-family homes shall not exceed 60 percent of 
        project costs.
    (c) Limitation.--Not more than 15 percent of the amount awarded for 
grants under this section in a fiscal year shall be awarded for 
projects that involve, as a primary focus, single-family homes.
    (d) Priority.--In awarding grants and providing technical 
assistance under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to 
projects that--
            (1) provide the greatest benefit to the greatest number of 
        people within an underserved or disadvantaged community;
            (2) incorporate renewable energy resources;
            (3) maximize local job creation, particularly among low-
        income, women, and minority workers; or
            (4) utilize or involve locally owned small and 
        disadvantaged businesses, including women and minority-owned 
        businesses.
    (e) Eligible Entities.--
            (1) In general.--To be eligible for a grant or technical 
        assistance under the EV Charging Equity Program, an entity 
        shall be--
                    (A) an individual or household that is the owner of 
                where a project will be carried out;
                    (B) a State, local, Tribal, or Territorial 
                government, or an agency or department thereof;
                    (C) an electric utility, including--
                            (i) a municipally owned electric utility;
                            (ii) a publicly-owned electric utility;
                            (iii) an investor-owned utility; and
                            (iv) a rural electric cooperative;
                    (D) a nonprofit organization or institution;
                    (E) a public housing authority;
                    (F) an institution of higher education (as defined 
                in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 22 1965 
                (20 U.S.C. 1001);
                    (G) a local small or disadvantaged business; or
                    (H) a partnership between any number of eligible 
                entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (G).
            (2) Updates.--The Secretary may add to or otherwise revise 
        the list of eligible entities under paragraph (1) if the 
        Secretary determines that such an addition or revision would be 
        beneficial to increasing deployment and accessibility of 
        electric vehicle charging infrastructure in underserved or 
        disadvantaged communities.
    (f) Public Notice and Request for Applications.--The Secretary 
shall publish in the Federal Register, and such other publications as 
the Secretary considers to be appropriate, a notice and request for 
applications to carry out projects under the EV Charging Equity 
Program.
    (g) Education and Outreach.--
            (1) In general.--In carrying out the EV Charging Equity 
        Program, the Secretary shall establish an education and 
        outreach component of such Program to ensure that information 
        regarding such Program and the benefits and opportunities for 
        electric vehicle charging is made available to individuals and 
        relevant entities that live within or serve underserved or 
        disadvantaged communities.
            (2) Requirements.--At a minimum, the education and outreach 
        component of the EV Charging Equity Program established under 
        this subsection shall include--
                    (A) the development and dissemination of an 
                electric vehicle charging resource guide that is--
                            (i) maintained electronically on a website;
                            (ii) available to the public, free of 
                        charge; and
                            (iii) directed specifically towards 
                        individuals and relevant entities that live 
                        within or serve underserved or disadvantaged 
                        communities;
                    (B) targeted outreach towards, and coordinated 
                public outreach with, relevant local, State, and Tribal 
                entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of 
                higher education, that are located within or serve 
                underserved or disadvantaged communities; and
                    (C) any other such forms of education or outreach 
                as the Secretary determines appropriate to increase 
                awareness of and access to the EV Charging Equity 
                Program.
    (h) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the EV 
Charging Equity Program is established under this section, and not less 
frequently than once every 2 years after that, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
the Senate, and make publicly available, a report on the status of the 
EV Charging Equity Program, including a list and description of 
projects that have received grant awards or technical assistance, and 
of the funding or assistance provided to such projects.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $96,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2021 through 2030.

SEC. 5. ENSURING PROGRAM BENEFITS FOR UNDERSERVED AND DISADVANTAGED 
              COMMUNITIES.

    In administering a relevant program, the Secretary shall, to the 
extent practicable, invest or direct available and relevant 
programmatic resources so that such program--
            (1) promotes electric vehicle charging infrastructure;
            (2) supports clean and multi-modal transportation;
            (3) provides improved air quality and emissions reductions; 
        and
            (4) prioritizes the needs of underserved or disadvantaged 
        communities.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Electric vehicle charging infrastructure.--The term 
        ``electric vehicle charging infrastructure'' means electric 
        vehicle supply equipment, including any conductors, electric 
        vehicle connectors, attachment plugs, and all other fittings, 
        devices, power outlets, or apparatuses installed specifically 
        for the purposes of delivering energy to an electric vehicle.
            (2) Publicly accessible.--The term ``publicly accessible'' 
        means, with respect to electric vehicle charging 
        infrastructure, electric vehicle charging infrastructure that 
        is available, at zero or reasonable cost, to members of the 
        public for the purpose of charging a privately owned or leased 
        electric vehicle, or electric vehicle that is available for use 
        by members of the general public as part of a ride service or 
        vehicle sharing service or program, including within or 
        around--
                    (A) public sidewalks and streets;
                    (B) public parks;
                    (C) public buildings, including--
                            (i) libraries;
                            (ii) schools; and
                            (iii) government offices;
                    (D) public parking;
                    (E) shopping centers; and
                    (F) commuter transit hubs.
            (3) Relevant program.--The term ``relevant program'' means 
        a program of the Department of Energy, including--
                    (A) the State energy program under part D of title 
                III the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 
                6321 et seq.);
                    (B) the Clean Cities program;
                    (C) the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block 
                Grant Program established under section 542 of the 
                Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 
                17152);
                    (D) loan guarantees made pursuant to title XVII of 
                the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16511 et 
                seq.); and
                    (E) such other programs as the Secretary determines 
                appropriate.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
            (5) Underserved or disadvantaged community.--The term 
        ``underserved or disadvantaged community'' means a community 
        located within a ZIP Code or census tract that is identified 
        as--
                    (A) a low-income community;
                    (B) a community of color;
                    (C) a Tribal community;
                    (D) having a disproportionately low number of 
                electric vehicle charging stations per capita, compared 
                to similar areas; or
                    (E) any other community that the Secretary 
                determines is disproportionately vulnerable to, or 
                bears a disproportionate burden of, any combination of 
                economic, social, environmental, and climate stressors.
                                 <all>