Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Grant Program Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.6546 | Sponsor: Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. (D-MI)
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Grant Program Act of 2022
This bill requires the Department of Transportation to establish the Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Grant Program to award grants on a competitive basis for projects to construct, install, or improve existing wireless charging infrastructure and technology for electric vehicles.

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a Wireless 
    Electric Vehicle Charging Grant Program, 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 ``Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging 
Grant Program Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Electric vehicles are crucial to cutting greenhouse gas 
        emissions, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and combating the 
        climate crisis. As of 2019, the transportation sector accounts 
        for 29 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, which is the 
        most of any sector.
            (2) Increasing the adoption of electric vehicles will 
        reduce pollution and increase air quality for communities 
        located near roads with high traffic density or high-volume 
        routes.
            (3) As the automotive industry shifts towards electric 
        vehicles, investing in new electric vehicle technologies will 
        be crucial to enhancing America's competitiveness, creating 
        jobs, and ensuring continued economic growth.
            (4) Range anxiety is one of the chief barriers to electric 
        vehicle adoption. If deployed strategically, wireless electric 
        vehicle charging could help by providing drivers convenient 
        opportunities to charge and extend the range of electric 
        vehicles.
            (5) Wireless charging technologies could be invaluable for 
        electric transit buses, trucking, fleet vehicles, and 
        autonomous electric vehicles, allowing for convenient and 
        hands-free charging, while also lowering costs, as effective 
        wireless charging would reduce the need for larger and heavier 
        batteries.
            (6) Wireless electric vehicle charging has the potential to 
        make electric vehicles more accessible and allow all people of 
        the United States, regardless of physical ability, to enjoy the 
        benefits of electric vehicles.
            (7) It is critical to establish a resilient and robust 
        domestic supply chain for all electric vehicle charging 
        infrastructure. With strong Buy America requirements, federally 
        funded programs can incentivize companies to build facilities 
        in the United States, creating good paying jobs and economic 
        growth for communities.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF WIRELESS ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING GRANT 
              PROGRAM.

    The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a program, in 
coordination with the Department of Energy, to award grants on a 
competitive basis to eligible entities for projects to construct, 
install, or improve existing wireless charging infrastructure and 
technology for electric vehicles. The program shall be known as the 
Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Grant Program (in this Act referred 
to as the ``Program'').

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF SECRETARY.

    In carrying out the Program, the Secretary--
            (1) may award grants for projects described in section 3, 
        including for wireless charging located along roads, in parking 
        lots, airports, and at coastal and inland ports;
            (2) shall ensure that recipients of the grants focus on the 
        wireless charging of 1 or more of--
                    (A) light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles;
                    (B) fleet vehicles, including the Federal vehicle 
                fleets; and
                    (C) public transit;
            (3) shall publish an annual progress report to the relevant 
        committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate that 
        includes--
                    (A) a description of recipients of grants, amount 
                disbursed, and reasons for the selection of projects;
                    (B) the progress of each pilot project funded under 
                the Program;
                    (C) successes, failures, and safety of the 
                technologies funded under the Program;
                    (D) recommendations for future funding, best 
                practices, and policies relating to wireless electric 
                vehicle charging;
                    (E) workforce impacts of each project;
                    (F) the environmental impact of each project, such 
                as the amount of fuel saved from the project, predicted 
                emissions savings, changes in air quality, and any 
                other environmental information deemed necessary by the 
                Secretary; and
                    (G) any other information the Secretary considers 
                necessary; and
            (4) may provide technical assistance, as determined 
        appropriate by the Secretary to eligible entities with respect 
        to activities described in paragraph (1).

SEC. 5. GRANT RECIPIENTS.

    (a) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible for a grant or technical 
assistance under the Program, an entity shall be, or be partnered with, 
any of the following:
            (1) A State, local, Tribal, or territorial government.
            (2) A Metropolitan Planning Organization.
            (3) A special purpose district or public authority with a 
        transportation function.
            (4) A transit agency.
    (b) Geographic Diversity.--In selecting eligible entities to 
receive grants under the Program, the Secretary shall prioritize 
geographical diversity.
    (c) Additional Grant Amounts.--An eligible entity may receive a 
grant from a State, local, Tribal, or territorial government to carry 
out similar activities as the activities funded under the Program.
    (d) Workforce Development and Training.--Eligible entities may use 
a portion of their grant to cover costs associated with training 
workers to construct, install, maintain, or operate the projects.
    (e) Community Engagement.--Eligible entities may use a portion of 
their grant to cover costs associated with engaging the communities and 
affected workers, such as drivers, on the planning and design of the 
project and educating the public on the project.

SEC. 6. COST SHARE.

    (a) Federal Share.--The Federal share of a grant awarded under the 
Program may not exceed 80 percent of total cost of the project.
    (b) Maximum Grant Amount.--The amount of a grant awarded to an 
eligible entity under the Program may not exceed $5,000,000.

SEC. 7. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Priority.--In awarding the grants under the Program, the 
Secretary shall prioritize projects that--
            (1) focus on non-disruptive designs that are compatible 
        with existing infrastructure and beneficial to the public, 
        including for low income, underserved, or disadvantaged 
        communities;
            (2) focus on cost-effective, energy-efficient, and 
        environmentally sustainable technologies for public use;
            (3) focus on compatibility with the entire range of 
        electric vehicles and with, if determined appropriate by the 
        Secretary, developing and evolving universal wireless charging 
        standards;
            (4) focus on safe designs that are compatible with frequent 
        use in a variety of weather conditions and road maintenance 
        activities;
            (5) are carried out by entities that emphasize diversity, 
        equity, and inclusion in the eligible entity's workforce and 
        business practices;
            (6) are likely to leverage Federal investment by 
        encouraging non-Federal contributions to the project, including 
        projects from public-private partnerships;
            (7) have State, local, Tribal, or territorial government 
        support;
            (8) have an outreach strategy to inform and educate the 
        public on project benefits and uses before, during, and after 
        the construction of the projects; and
            (9) have an inclusive plan to engage and ensure that the 
        surrounding communities and impacted workers, such as the 
        drivers of the vehicles, are included in the planning and 
        design process.
    (b) Wage Rate Requirement.--The Secretary shall require that each 
recipient of a grant under the Program provides reasonable assurances 
that all laborers and mechanics employed to carry out the projects for 
which the assistance is provided, including laborers and mechanics 
employed by contractors or subcontractors, will be paid wages at rates 
not less than those for similar work in the locality as determined by 
the Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 
of title 40, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Davis-
Bacon Act'').
    (c) Neutrality Toward Organized Labor.--The recipient of grants 
under the Program shall have, and ensure that all employed by 
contractors and subcontractors of the covered entity with respect to 
the covered activities have--
            (1) an explicit policy of neutrality with regard to--
                    (A) labor organizing for the employees engaged in 
                the covered activities; and
                    (B) such employees' choice to form and join labor 
                organizations; and
            (2) policies that require--
                    (A) the posting and maintenance of notices in the 
                workplace to such employees of their rights under the 
                National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.); 
                and
                    (B) that such employees are, at the beginning of 
                their employment, provided notice and information 
                regarding the employees' rights under such Act.
    (d) Buy America.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        recipients of grants under the Program shall comply with the 
        requirements described in section 5323(j) of title 49, United 
        States Code.
            (2) Waiver.--The Secretary may provide any waiver to the 
        requirements described in paragraph (1) in the same manner and 
        to the same extent as the Secretary of Transportation may 
        provide a waiver under section 5323(j)(2) of title 49, United 
        States Code.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Electric vehicle.--The term ``electric vehicle'' means 
        a zero-emission vehicle powered by an electric battery and 
        train.
            (2) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of title 23, United States Code.
            (3) Wireless charging.--The term ``wireless charging'' 
        means the charging of a battery by inductive charging or by any 
        means in which a battery is charged without a wire, or plug-in 
        wire, connecting the power source and battery.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 to carry out 
this Act, to remain available until expended.
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