By Zamone Perez
Clean energy advocates and Virginia lawmakers are calling for Congress to increase investment in electric transportation.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law by former President Joe Biden, invested billions in electric transportation, including developments like Project Sync, a state vehicle charging initiative, which received $1.5 million in federal funding. Now, congressional lawmakers are negotiating the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.
Sen. Michael Jones, D-Richmond, said policymakers must build on previous gains from past legislation.
“Federal investments in EV charging, cleaner freight systems, public transit and school buses are helping us modernize while strengthening economic competitiveness,” Jones explained. “We cannot afford to slow down. We can’t let our foot off the pedal.”
President Donald Trump has attempted to rescind funds from the infrastructure law and has worked to repeal other efforts to promote vehicle electrification. He and other Republicans argued such policies prop up the electric vehicle industry and the free market should be allowed to take its course.
The transportation sector accounts for over half of all nitrogen oxide pollution in the U.S. In places like Richmond, which earned a “C” grade for particle pollution from the American Lung Association, putting the health of more than 200,000 people at risk.
Alleyn Harned, executive director of the advocacy group Virginia Clean Cities, argued as affordability challenges continue, electrification of cars and other transit options will also help ease costs.
“In 2026, affordability and our need to be prepared to respond (to) the energy and transportation needs of our people reflect that federal investment should still be made into a wide range of these electric, reduced-emission transit and active transportation activities,” Harned contended.
The surface transportation bill is set to expire at the end of September.
