federal & state updates + new contact email

[Chicagoland for EVs]

Hi everyone, happy new year. I wanted to give you an overdue policy update given lots of recent changes happening.

Federal

Tax credit — The federal tax credit rules changed January 1. There are new requirements for vehicles as well as income caps. It can be pretty confusing to parse but Plug In America’s site is a good, up to date resource to understand the requirements in simple language. https://pluginamerica.org/policy/what-you-need-to-know-about-2023-ev-tax-credits/

The federal charging station credit has been extended until 2032. This gives you nonrefundable tax credit (you need to have tax liability to claim the full amount, like the purchase tax credit) of 30% up to $1,000 on installation and hardware costs (more for commercial sites). They have to be located in rural or low-income urban areas. Full rules are here https://afdc.energy.gov/laws/10513

NEVI funding — Illinois’ EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan was approved for National EV Infrastructure formula-based funding to build out interstate DCFC corridors. These will be fast charger stations with at least 4 CCS chargers providing 150kWh (600 total). This will give Illinois about $22 million for FY2022 and an estimated $31.6 million for FY2023. Updates are here: https://idot.illinois.gov/home/drive-electric-illinois

State

Purchase rebate — The $4,000 new/used EV purchase rebate has officially run out of money after two funding cycles. Low-income applicants can still apply and be prioritized before the close of this cycle’s January 31 deadline, but without additional funding, there won’t be a rebate until next fiscal year (July).

Charger rebate — CEJA also provides a charging station rebate that can award up to 80% of the cost of eligible projects. The rules about how Illinois EPA is going to manage and disburse this program and its funding haven’t been decided yet, so it’s not yet technically available.

VW settlement money — There was a short application period for Volkswagen settlement-funded public EV charging projects last September through December 30, 2022. That program’s webpage, with a listserv you can sign up for updates for, is here https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/air-quality/driving-a-cleaner-illinois/Pages/default.aspx

EV Ready buildings/Right to Charge — I’m working with Rep. Robyn Gabel and other stakeholders again to reintroduce legislation we almost got passed last year requiring new/majorly renovated residential buildings in Illinois to be EV Ready and give renters/condo owners a right to charge. There’s no bill number yet.

Advanced Clean Trucks — There’s a new coalition of environmental justice and health groups, along with others, called Neighbors for an Equitable Transition to Zero-Emission (or NETZ) working on bringing electric trucks and buses to Illinois. They are calling upon Gov. Pritzker to have Illinois adopt the Advanced Clean Truck rule, which requires the sale of at least 30% zero-emission trucks by 2030, and the Heavy Duty Omnibus rule, which requires diesel engines to emit less nitrogen oxide. California, Washington, Oregon, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont have adopted these rules and Colorado and North Carolina are underway. You can read about that effort here https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/12/9/23502135/air-pollution-diesel-truck-engines-electric-models

Local

No updates on the Chicago Right to Charge bill.

We have an election in a month! Chicago’s municipal election for mayor and City Council (along with Clerk, Treasurer, and Police District Councilors). Here are details about the mayoral candidates: https://www.wbez.org/stories/heres-whos-running-for-chicago-mayor/5cc53872-a4f3-440f-ae42-35de867bbd46 Only 6 of 50 alderpersons are running unopposed and 12 incumbents are retiring, so City Council will look very different in May. Info about each ward's race here: https://ballotpedia.org/City_elections_in_Chicago,_Illinois_(2023)

Lastly — just an FYI that I’ve been having trouble with emails bouncing back from in...@chicagoevs.org domain, so I made a new email address for any contact from external inquiries chi...@gmail.com 

That's all for now from my end. I hope you are all doing well!

Neda