In a significant legal move, California has mounted its 50th legal challenge against actions taken by the Trump administration, targeting the halt of federal funds for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. This legal action, announced by state officials on Tuesday, underscores the ongoing battle over climate policy and infrastructure development.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, claims that the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration have been withholding approval of new funding for two critical grant programs initiated under President Biden. These are the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program and the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator program. Both programs aim to foster the development and maintenance of EV charging stations.
California, a pioneer in the adoption of electric vehicles, boasts over 201,000 public EV charging ports, surpassing the approximately 120,000 gasoline nozzles across the state, as per state data. However, the state contends that this is not enough to meet its climate objectives.
The lawsuit argues that the Trump administration’s actions infringe upon the constitutional separation of powers, as the funding was approved by a bipartisan Congress. It seeks a court declaration to deem the administration’s actions unlawful and demands the reinstatement of the funds, totaling approximately $3 billion.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the bipartisan nature of the issue, stating, “Bipartisan is not a word you hear a lot these days, but one that underscores this isn’t about party politics — it’s about the future of our country, our economy and our planet.” He criticized the Trump administration for stalling projects that could reduce pollution and expand green job opportunities.
Joining Bonta in this legal effort are the attorneys general from Washington and Colorado, supported by a coalition of 13 other states and Washington, D.C.
The White House and the Department of Transportation have yet to respond to requests for comment. Trump’s executive order titled “Unleashing American Energy” halted these programs, labeling them as ideologically driven and burdensome.
These programs, originating from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021, allocated $2.5 billion for EV chargers and hydrogen fueling infrastructure, while the Accelerator program focused on maintaining and repairing EV chargers. California stands to gain $179.8 million from these initiatives to enhance its EV charging network.
The funding includes $59.3 million for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle corridors, $55.9 million for zero-emission freight transport, and $63.1 million for EV charger repairs, addressing common issues with older chargers.
The halted funds differ from those of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, a $5-billion scheme also paused by Trump but resumed after a court ruling in favor of California and other states. These resources are vital for California’s EV ambitions and climate goals, as emphasized by Governor Gavin Newsom: “California will defend the Constitution, our communities and the future we’re building.”
The state is leading the charge for zero-emission vehicles, aiming for 7.1 million plug-in EVs by 2030 and a ban on new gas-powered car sales by 2035, despite efforts by the Trump administration to block such measures.
California’s myriad lawsuits have thus far preserved $168 billion in federal funding from being withheld. The current lawsuit is also supported by attorneys general from Arizona, Delaware, and several other states.
Recently, a federal judge overturned Trump’s ban on federal permits for wind energy projects, marking another victory for California and its allies.
Original Story at www.latimes.com