Carper, Burr, Cortez Masto, Stabenow Introduce Legislation to Spur Investments in Clean Vehicle Charging and Refueling Stations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee and senior member of the Finance Committee; Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and a senior member of the Finance Committee; Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.); and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) today introduced legislation to promote investments in clean vehicle infrastructure, such as electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen refueling stations for fuel cell vehicles.

The Securing America’s Clean Fuels Infrastructure Act would improve and expand the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Investment Tax Credit (ITC), commonly referred to as “30C,” lowering costs for clean vehicle infrastructure deployment. Providing incentives to build the needed infrastructure to support clean vehicles, the legislation will support American consumers as they move towards more electric and clean energy vehicles.

“For our automakers to be globally competitive and to meet our climate goals, we need millions more electric and fuel cell vehicles on our roads in the next decade. By bringing down investment costs, our bill will ensure our nation starts building the necessary charging and clean vehicle refueling stations today,” said Chairman Carper. “Many of our nation’s largest automakers are already pledging to electrify and clean up their fleets, but Americans must have far greater access in their communities to electric charging and fuel cell stations. We can’t have clean vehicles without clean vehicle fueling infrastructure—we must invest in both. The Securing America’s Clean Fuels Infrastructure Act will break down the financial obstacles to building the hydrogen refueling and electric charging stations we need across our country. I thank Senators Burr, Cortez-Masto, and Stabenow for joining me to introduce this bill that is good for American jobs and good for the planet.”

“The pandemic has posed some of the greatest economic challenges our nation has ever faced,” said Senator Burr. “It’s critical that Congress support policies that will grow the economy and create additional jobs to overcome these challenges. This bipartisan legislation will do just that by incentivizing private sector investment into our nation’s aging infrastructure and expanding renewable, clean fuel choices for American drivers. I’m pleased to join my colleagues on this important initiative.”

“Nevada is leading the way in electric vehicle production and innovation, and this legislation will ensure that our charging station infrastructure can keep up with growing demand,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud to support legislation that will strengthen America’s clean energy future, create jobs, and combat climate change.”

“At a time when the climate crisis is having a harmful effect on Michigan, transitioning to electric vehicles is something we can do now to reduce emissions and combat carbon pollution. Electric vehicles are a key part of our country’s future, but you can’t drive one unless there are enough charging stations along your route. That’s why Republicans and Democrats have come together to introduce a bill to invest in electric vehicle charging infrastructure. I look forward to the day I can drive from Washington, D.C to Lansing and have enough charging stations to drive myself home from work,” said Senator Stabenow.

Background

The current 30C ITC structure isn’t adequate for encouraging greater private investments in clean vehicle refueling infrastructure like electric charging stations and hydrogen refueling stations. If implemented, Securing America’s Clean Fuels Infrastructure Act would do three things:

1. Clearly state that the 30C ITC can be applied to each item of refueling property (i.e., each charger) rather than per location.
2. Increase the 30C ITC cap for business investments from $30,000 to $200,000 for each item of refueling property.
3. Extend the 30C ITC tax credit for eight more years from the December 31, 2021 expiration date, which means the 30C ITC would apply to refueling property that is placed in service by December 31, 2029.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

This legislation has broad support from the auto companies, environmental community, and industry stakeholders, including Ford, Honda, General Motors, Volkswagen, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Electric Drive Transportation Association, the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association, Zero Emission Transportation Association, Electrify America, EVGO, Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, American Lung Association, Clean Air Task Force, Union of Concerned Scientists, Stellantis, Duke Energy, Volta Charging, ChargePoint, EV Box Group, and ABB.