EV Charging After the One Big Beauiful Bill

Success or Failure: Nationwide Charging Network Rollout

Washington state provided a counterpoint to Texas’ progress. Klein described conversations with Washington’s transportation leaders who explained that NEVI funding represented only a small fraction of their much larger, $1.2 billion EV charging program. Rather than rushing to deploy chargers with federal dollars, Washington integrated NEVI funds into its broader plans, delaying visible results but aligning with their long-term strategy. He underscored that NEVI was designed to supplement, not replace, the private sector, particularly in rural areas where commercial investment was unlikely without state intervention. General misunderstanding of NEVI’s scope, Klein argued, contributed to public impatience. The program’s 1,100-station target was modest compared to the anticipated 1.28 million chargers needed nationwide by 2030 and many expected rapid nationwide deployments in its early years. Despite challenges with supply chains, infrastruc- ture, and politics, progress was measurable. By the time Klein left his post, 400 stations had been built, with 40,000 ports in motion toward the goal of 500,000 public and private chargers by the end of the decade.

State versus Federal Programs and Variations Shifting federal priorities could open the door for more state-led action on EV incentives, also. Smith suggested that 2026 may prove pivotal, with legisla- tures in states like California potentially introducing or expanding purchase tax credits to offset federal rollbacks. Such moves, Klein cautioned, would come as state budgets are already feeling the strain from clawbacks of federal dollars. Klein also raised the possibility of a broader fiscal and political rift over who controls funding, what he called a poten- tial “interesting cataclysm” in the next two years. While the discussion acknowledged these tensions, Chris Normandeau , director at FirstService Energy, urged caution in framing the issue purely along partisan lines. Using Texas as an example, he pointed out that the state leads the nation in renewable energy production and ranks just behind California in EV adoption, defying the assumption that clean energy growth is solely a

“blue state” priority. Klein agreed that Texas is an anomaly, illustrating how the politics of EV adop- tion and renewable energy are often more complex than the national narrative suggests. NEVI Program Implementation and Expectations Again, Texas emerged as a standout example in the national rollout of EV charging infrastructure, with Klein noting the state’s surprisingly efficient approach to permitting clean energy projects. Coming from his unique position in the federal government, Klein gave a peek into states’ uses and perspectives on federal programs. While many other traditionally conservative states showed little enthusiasm for programs like NEVI, Texas quietly advanced projects without much public fanfare. In contrast, places like Illinois, Washington, Oregon, and California have at times expressed frustration over not seeing propor- tional returns on federal funding.