NEWS AND EVENTS
EPB EV Charging Incentive for Commercial Customers
EPB of Chattanooga is now offering a new incentive for commercial business customers to install publicly-accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022. Qualifying equipment and incentive amounts include:
  • $2,000 per port for Level 2 and DC fast chargers with OpenADR networking capabilities
  • $500 per port for Level 2 chargers not capable of meeting network requirements
To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the application and follow the instructions to receive the incentive by mail.
This is the second, currently-open EV charging station incentive offered by a local power company in Tennessee, following Knoxville Utilities Board’s home EV charger rebate instituted in 2019.
TVA to Partner on All-Electric Rideshare Pilot Program
TVA has announced a partnership with Lyft, the Nashville Electric Service, and Middle Tennessee Electric to initiate an all-electric rideshare program in the Middle Tennessee market. This experiment is designed to support existing rideshare EV drivers in bringing new value, fun, and EV education to their electric rides, while letting riders (often in an EV for the first time) engage in a unique experience that they will want to repeat and share with others.

The project team is currently in the process of prototyping the in-car experiences with Lyft, after which the program will be rolled out in-market with the rideshare company’s EV drivers. The team will continually explore ways to improve the experience with no new effort on the part of the drivers. Click here to learn more about TVA’s efforts in the transportation electrification space.
Electric Vehicles in Tennessee Triple Over Five Years
Tennessee is quickly becoming a national hub for EV and battery manufacturing. This includes vehicles like the Cadillac LYRIQ, which is produced at GM’s Spring Hill plant, the Nissan Leaf, which is made and assembled in Smyrna, the Volkswagen ID.4 from Chattanooga, and, coming soon, the Ford F-150 Lightning, which will be produced in Memphis. In correlation with the expansion of EV manufacturing in Tennessee, the state has seen an increase in the number of EV registrations on its roads from about 5,000 in 2017 to nearly 18,500 through March 2022.
Throughout 2018, a core team of stakeholders—including State agencies (TDEC and TDOT), electric utilities (including TVA and several local power companies), local governments, universities, EV manufacturers, businesses, and advocacy groups—worked together to develop a shared vision for electric transportation in the state of Tennessee. Together, these stakeholders comprise Drive Electric Tennessee (DET), whose goal is to increase EV adoption in Tennessee to 200,000 vehicles by 2028. Click here to learn more about DET and its EV-supportive infrastructure, awareness, and policy initiatives.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
TDEC and TDOT Announce Stakeholder Survey and Engagement Sessions to Inform State's EV Infrastructure Formula Program Plan
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, or BIL) includes a $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program to help states create a network of EV charging stations along Alternative Fuel Corridors designated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). States must submit comprehensive plans to the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation by August 1, 2022 in order to receive NEVI Formula Program funds. TDEC and TDOT are working collaboratively to develop the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (TEVI) Deployment Plan, which will detail how the State will deploy NEVI Formula Program Funds along eligible corridors.
The Departments welcome feedback from the public and relevant stakeholders on the NEVI Formula Program planning process and have developed the survey linked here. All responses to this survey must be submitted by 5:00 PM CT on May 31, 2022 in order for feedback to be considered by the State during plan development.
In addition to collecting survey responses online, the Departments will host a series of stakeholder engagement sessions across Tennessee to solicit feedback and answer questions regarding the State's planning process:
  • Kingston: Monday, May 2, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM ET
    City Hall, 900 Waterford Pl., Kingston, TN 37763


  • Kingsport: Tuesday, May 3, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM ET
    Chamber of Commerce (Eastman Board Room), 400 Clinchfield St., Kingsport, TN 37660


  • Knoxville: Wednesday, May 4, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM ET
    Knoxville Hilton (Sequoyah 3), 501 W Church Ave., Knoxville, TN 37902


  • Nashville: Monday, May 9, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM CT
    Sonny West Conference Center, Howard Office Building, 700 2nd Ave. S, Nashville, TN 37210


  • Monteagle: Tuesday, May 10, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM CT
    Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Dixie Lee Hwy, Monteagle, TN 37356


  • Chattanooga: Wednesday, May 11, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM ET
    Development Resource Center (Conference Room 1A), 1250 Market St., Chattanooga, TN 37402


  • Memphis: Monday, May 16, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM CT
    Benjamin Hooks Library, 303 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38111


  • Fayetteville: Tuesday, May 17, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM CT
    City Hall, 110 Elk Avenue South, Fayetteville, TN 37334
TDEC and TDOT have recorded a webinar to provide background on the NEVI Formula Program, the current state of transportation electrification in Tennessee, and key considerations to be included in the TEVI Deployment Plan. Click here to view the full webinar.
To learn more about NEVI and Tennessee's EV infrastructure planning efforts, visit www.tn.gov/evplan.
EV Champion Training Series
The EV Champion Training Series is a multi-part virtual training hosted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and is designed to help fleet managers and coordinators become subject matter experts in EV implementation. This training outlines EV technologies and considerations for EV charging infrastructure installation. Upon completion of this course, attendees will be able to select the best EVs for their fleet, as well as plan and install the necessary charging infrastructure to serve the needs of these new vehicles. There are three upcoming webinars available for registration:
Sparking the EV Charging Revolution in Rural Communities
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will host a webinar on May 10 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM Central that will highlight TDEC and TVA’s Fast Charge TN Network program as a model for developing EV charging infrastructure. This program has a goal of installing DC fast charging infrastructure at least every 50 miles along interstates and major State and U.S. highways throughout the Tennessee Valley. The webinar aims to focus on how all Appalachian states can utilize and adapt this program’s approach to meet each state’s unique EV needs. Representatives from TDEC and TVA will join ARC in showcasing the funding program and will discuss challenges, key considerations, and primary takeaways for state energy offices and state departments of transportation. Click here to register.
FY 2022 Low or No Emission and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities
The U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low or No Emission Grant (Low-No) Program supports the transition of the nation’s transit fleet to the lowest polluting and most energy efficient transit vehicles. The Low-No Program provides funding to state and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities. FTA’s Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program assists in the financing of buses and bus facilities capital projects, including replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing, or leasing buses or related equipment, and rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing, or leasing bus-related facilities

FTA announced the availability of approximately $1.5 billion for Fiscal Year 2022 grants to help modernize bus fleets and bus facilities across the country and to help transit agencies purchase or lease low- or no- emission vehicles that use advanced technologies to help improve air quality. A Notice of Funding Opportunity has been released in the Federal Register and the application period will close on May 31.

FTA hosted a webinar to provide more information to potential applicants for the FY22 Low-No Program and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program. The recording of this webinar can be accessed by clicking here.

RESOURCES AND GUIDES
White House Releases Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Rural Playbook
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) will invest billions of dollars toward delivering affordable, high-speed internet, safe roads and bridges, modern wastewater systems, clean drinking water, reliable and affordable electricity, and good paying jobs in every corner of the country, including in rural communities. The newly-released BIL Rural Playbook is intended to help rural communities understand the available funding for infrastructure provided by the BIL and other sources, offering information on the “what, where, and how” to apply for federal infrastructure dollars. The playbook identifies programs and sources of funds set aside for rural communities under the law and provides an overview of key flexibilities and other benefits available to rural communities under the law. Click here to learn more.
Visit the TDEC Office of Energy Programs Website at http://www.tn.gov/environment/energy.
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