Question 1: How could this policy change impact Maine?

 

Back in 2022 Biden’s Infrastructure and Job Investments Act set aside $5 billion to build electric vehicle charging stations throughout the country.

 

$19 million was expected to go to Maine by 2026 (third lowest in the country). The state department of transportation told us they’ve already allocated $15 million of that and are still waiting to receive the other $4 million.

 

Last month the Trump administration (Federal Highway Administration) decided to pause the program and “update guidance to align with current priorities” - presumably meaning spending more money on traditional gas-powered cars and less on EVs.

 

 

 

Question 2: What has that money been used for so far?

 

It was up to Gov. Mills to decide which companies to give that money to, but it’s taken the state a long time to actually spend the money it’s received. 

 

Only two EV charging stations have actually opened in Maine so far under the program. Both of them are owned by Tesla. 

 

But the slow pace is a nation-wide issue. The Washington Post reported in March 2024 that only seven charging stations with 38 ports had been opened under the program. By the end of 2024 there were 31 stations. Rhode Island is the only state that’s finished building all its stations, and that’s because they only built two of them.

 

 

 

Question 3: What happens to the money now?

 

Maine has already promised to spend another $10 million for nine different companies to build 11 more charging stations.

 

The Federal Highway Administration’s memo to states says Maine will still be reimbursed for those stations since they were already planned. But states will also be held “harmless” for not building the stations - so the funds could be used for something else if Maine wants.

 

We spoke with the state Department of Transportation this week. They told us they’re still going to build the remaining 11 stations that have already been planned.

 

But there’s still another $4 million in funding that Biden promised, but Trump might stop Maine from receiving.

 

 

 

Question 4: How many EV drivers are in Maine and what does this mean for them?

 

There are only 7,377 electric vehicles registered in Maine.

 

There are 1,248 public charging stations to support those vehicles.That breaks down to six cars for every one station.

 

That’s not enough stations for the state to support a significant amount of EV drivers if sales increase and there’s ever going to be a serious state-wide shift from gas to electric cars.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency says a full EV infrastructure needs 56 stations per 1,000 square feet, or a station no more than three miles away no matter where you are.

 

Maine needs roughly 2,000 more charging stations to meet that goal, according to Everything Policy. That’s ninth-best in the country, but still a lot of work to be done. Even if Trump didn’t pause this federal program, Maine still would have needed a lot more funding to truly fill the whole state with EV chargers.