Trump halts Oregon's electric vehicle charging grants

The Trump administration has put a hold on funding for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, affecting a $15 million grant for Tualatin, Oregon. This grant was intended to help create a regional network of EV charging stations in 17 cities along the Willamette Valley. Tualatin received this grant last year through a federal program linked to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The stations were designed to assist low and moderate-income residents who do not have at-home charging access. Tualatin's plans included placing these charging stations at key locations like libraries and city halls. Alongside Tualatin's grant, Albany’s $1.9 million grant for building charging stations has also been frozen. The city was working on the grant requirements before the Trump administration's executive order halted progress. President Trump issued this order on his first day in office, aiming to revise policies related to electric vehicles and promoting other energy sources. Tualatin officials were informed that their grant agreement would not be signed immediately, leaving the project uncertain. Nic Westendorf, the city's deputy public works director, mentioned that the situation is currently in a "holding pattern," but he is not hopeful about resuming the project. Tualatin could potentially lose not just the grant but also matching funds, totaling $19 million for the installation of 1,000 charging ports. Jeff Allen, director of a Portland-based transportation nonprofit, criticized the freeze as politically motivated and expressed concern about fulfilling contracts. He believes it undermines the trust between the government and business sectors. In related news, Oregon, California, and Washington won a $102 million grant last year to build EV and hydrogen fueling stations along major freight routes. However, a portion of those funds is also on pause while awaiting federal guidance.