Last week, the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation approved 35 state plans to deploy federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds to build a nationwide electric vehicle (EV) charging network. California will receive $384 million over the next five years to expand public charging infrastructure, helping to meet ambitious targets set by the Newsom Administration.  

To assist member counties in this emerging infrastructure need, RCRC is providing support for county compliance with zero-emission vehicle permit streamlining ordinances and is undertaking efforts to advance an initiative to develop infrastructure readiness strategies to unlock state and federal infrastructure dollars for rural communities and attract private investments. California’s State Plan specifically nods to engaging with rural organizations and businesses such as RCRC. 

RCRC has also been proactively engaging with federal agencies to craft rural-specific opportunities to successfully deploy EV infrastructure investments. RCRC is not only informing agencies of the unique challenges with such a transformational shift in rural California counties, but also has an eye toward ensuring the competitive grant opportunities on the horizon direct successful investments in rural, underserved communities.  

For more information on our Advocacy or Economic Development efforts, contact RCRC Policy Advocate Leigh Kammerich, or RCRC Deputy Chief Economic Development Officer Bob Burris.