The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has paused its electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure projects following President Donald Trump’s executive order freezing all funding for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program.
In October, Iowa’s DOT had planned to expand EV charging stations across the state using more than $16 million in federal funding from the NEVI program. The initiative aimed to install 28 new chargers.
However, in a statement to KCRG, the DOT confirmed it is waiting for further guidance from the federal government before proceeding with the project.
Marc Franke, an EV owner for over a decade, expressed concerns that the delay could discourage more people from switching to electric vehicles.
“The fact that it’s paused now is not so good because we really need that initial infrastructure to help people use electric vehicles here in Iowa,” Franke said.
He also noted that the lack of charging stations makes travel more difficult for current EV owners.
“If you wanted to come from north of town or east of town or south of town, knowing that that infrastructure is here would be darn helpful. The longer it doesn’t get built, the harder it will be for people to use those vehicles to travel around Iowa,” he added.
Meanwhile, some lawmakers are pushing to end EV infrastructure funding altogether.
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst has introduced the Unplug the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Programs Act, which would block federal funds from going to projects like these.
“Spending billions of taxpayer dollars to open just 60 charging stations nationwide over three years shows Biden’s green dream was clearly a road to nowhere,” Ernst said in a statement. “The last thing hardworking Iowans need is to pay the price for another billion-dollar Biden boondoggle. It’s time to slam the brakes on this expensive, out-of-touch fantasy.”
