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EV Charging Resources and Technical Assistance for Tribal Nations

Nov. 15, 2023

Text version

Presentation slides

The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) hosted a webinar focused on Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Resources and Technical Assistance for Tribal Nations on Nov. 15, 2023. The event aimed to bring awareness to Tribal EV initiatives through the White House Council on Native American Affairs, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rural EV Toolkit, as well as updates to the Joint Office Tribal Nations Resource and Technical Assistance page. The views expressed are informational only and are not endorsed by the Joint Office.

The panelists included:

  • Shelbi Small, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

  • Lily Ballengee, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary

  • Gentri White, U.S. Department of Agriculture

  • Tedd Buelow, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Speakers discussed the Joint Office role in helping Tribal Nations transition to clean energy transportation, how to plan and fund such projects, and the resources available within the Rural EV Toolkit including tribal specific EV funding opportunities, resources, and success stories.

Key Takeaways

The Joint Office offers a Tribal Resource Page and is developing a tribal engagement strategy to incorporate perspectives from communities to give them a seat at the table.

A national EV charging infrastructure network could provide multiple benefits for Tribal Nations, including decreased transportation costs, emissions reductions, jobs and training, and opportunities for disadvantaged businesses.

The Joint Office has materials providing guidance on equity in EV charging for rural communities and technical assistance for tribes undergoing a clean energy transformation.

There is no one-sized fits all approach to electrifying your community. Coordinate early and often with project stakeholders to ensure access to the most up to date information as plans advance. Tribes should build for flexibility by planning now for future charging needs to prevent costly upgrades down the road.

Resources