By SOPHIE AUSTIN and ALEXA ST. JOHN Associated Press/Report for America
More than a dozen states are suing the Trump administration for withholding funds from for the buildout of electric vehicle chargers across the U.S. The federal lawsuit says $5 billion allocated to states under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Joe Biden in 2021 cannot be withdrawn by the Trump administration. The states argue Congress holds the authority to halt funding approved under the law, not the Trump administration. The Trump administration's move to halt the money is part of a broader push to roll back environmental policies approved under Biden.
The Department of Energy on Tuesday announced $2.2 billion in funding for eight projects across 18 states to strengthen the electrical grid against increasing extreme weather, advance the transition to cleaner electricity and meet a growing demand for power. The money will help build more than 600 miles of new transmission lines and upgrade about 400 miles of existing lines so that they can carry more current. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said the funding is important because extreme weather events fueled by climate change are increasing, damaging towers and bringing down wires, causing power outages. The department says the investments will provide more reliable, affordable electricity for 56 million homes and businesses.