Posted on 05/29/2024 8:06:31 AM PDT by Red Badger
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg attempted to justify the progress on electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, prompting a laugh from CBS’s “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brenna.
After $7.5 billion of taxpayers’ money being plowed into the initiative, just a “handful” of charging stations have been built.
The interview took a comedic turn when Brennan pointed out the discrepancy between the investment made back in 2021 and the reality of the results.
Just seven or eight charging stations have been built despite billions being spent, according to the Federal Highway Administration,
“Why isn’t that happening more quickly?” asked Brennan.
Buttigieg responded by detailing the complex process involving utility work and the novelty and reiterating the administration’s goal to install half a million chargers by 2030.
After Buttigiegelved into the details of the logistical hurdles, Brennan couldn’t help but laugh.
Watch
VIDEO AT LINK................
As Trendingpoliticsnews noted: Many have questioned whether the government’s lofty promises on green energy are too far out of reach, especially when basic infrastructure projects are crawling at a snail’s pace. Despite the lofty goal to roll out 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations by 2030, a mere seven are up and running—more than two years after Congress forked over $7.5 billion to fuel the project. As the White House pushes new car and truck emissions rules demanding more electric and hybrid vehicles, the sluggish pace could put the brakes on America’s green driving revolution.
The outlet added:
Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law enacted in November 2021 allocated $7.5 billion to bolster the nation’s EV charging infrastructure. Of this, $5 billion was designated for states through “formula funding” under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program to establish a network of rapid chargers along key highways.
However, two years post-enactment, a Federal Highway Administration spokesperson revealed that only seven charging stations are operational, offering just 38 charging ports. This is a stark contrast to the projected 20,000 charging spots or approximately 5,000 stations, as forecasted by Atlas Public Policy.
Currently, operational stations are located in Hawaii, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, with ongoing constructions in four additional states. Meanwhile, twelve states have initiated contracts for station construction, but 17 states are yet to propose any plans according to The Washington Post.
Earlier in the year, Republican members of the House of Representatives formally questioned the Biden administration about the delayed deployment of electric vehicle (EV) chargers, sending a letter that demanded answers on the program’s slow progress.
“We have significant concerns that under your efforts American taxpayer dollars are being woefully mismanaged,” Republican members wrote.
“The problems with these programs continue to grow — delays in the delivery of chargers, concerns from States about labor contracting requirements and minimum operating standards for chargers.”
As the Biden administration continues to push for a greener America, many have been left wondering if their vision is obscured by bureaucratic inefficiencies and overpromises. Meanwhile, taxpayers are left watching the clock—and their wallets—as the promised EV revolution sputters from the start.
You can’t just install those chargers anywhere. The utility infrastructure has to be able to handle the extra load. When Tesla built out a dealer/service facility near where I live, they had to put in at least 3 or 4 large transformers for their chargers.
the real goal is to force most onto public transportation
Doing what exactly?
I don’t want to know.
Google gerbils and gays. Legend has it they have special use for them. Now imagine a charger up there instead of a gerbil to get their morning jolt
Never mind the transformers, and the copper.
Where are they going to get the POWER?
Esp California. Land of rolling blackouts, and “Don’t wash your clothes during the day”..
Where is the additional 10-200% (depending on how many cars generally, and peak charging times) electricity going to come from?
I’d hate to be the next person to charge my car that day..................
We’re going to need a lot of new coal fired power plants.
LOL. By golly, you might be on to something there. You should apply for a federal grant to study your idea. Of course your idea is neither workable nor practical. But “workable” and “practical” are no longer requirements to get federal money.
I’d like to say more, but I’m busy helping my cat fill out a grant application relating to face masks.
Whatever gerbils do...
Nah
368 gerbils all pedaling frantically together on tiny bicycles attached to the whatever is under the hood...
The EV probably wont move but imagine the great kickers youd have for a gerbil football team...
In principle I’d say this should be a private enterprise thing. But if I accept the premise that it is a national imperative and it needed to be funded, it still requires a lot more than handing out money. Property/locations have to be secured. The grid must be able to support it. Wire needs to be laid. Dropping the charging station in is the easiest part.
Oddly though, Tesla did it. Sure they got some subsidies and are able to sell this wholly invented new currency called “carbon credits”. They raised capital from the markets.
But typical of government they have 1001 different priorities. They need to pay off key constituencies. They need to get local zoning boards to approve. They need to give special grants to underrepresented groups. Handing cash to the states, the states to the counties, the counties to the towns and cities who have constituents, do their constituents drive EVs or want charging stations and so on. There are 3-4 companies that know how to do this, they could have gone to them. I would imagine that you roll these out along interstates. Then along state highways.
Where I live, there are a lot - a lot - of Teslas. We drove the in-laws to a lunch spot 1.5 miles from our home and and I said “let’s play count the Teslas”. We counted more than 16 of them on the drive there. Basically one main road down the hill. On my block alone there are several. Most people here charge at home. Tesla also took over part of a large strip mall and installed about 40 chargers there too - same location we went for lunch. I imagine the mall owners and restaurants and operators in that mall approve of it as it brings people in. It’s not so much interest to build a charger and then add a coffee shop and hope people come. They need to build them where people already intend to go and spend some time. And they need to build a lot of them because if you think finding a parking space can sometimes be hard enough, imagine having to find one of the few with an electric cable.
California has sunshine, lots of it, and solar panels. Why they are even going to power their high-speed rail with solar. As soon as it gets built.
Shovel ready jobs 2.0
Wanna bet that the $7.5 billion is being used to pay for the care an feeding of the 20 million illegals?
Reminds me of an old Bloom County comic - failure is still not very original:
Fraud, waste, and abuse. A government stable. Tue bigger tue government; the worse it is.
I live in a small town in MA. We have charging stations all over the place. They just installed 2 at the local supermarket and the high school has 2.
“Not enough copper being mined...”
Yeah, especially in view of the guys w/ bolt cutters going around clipping those heavy power cables for their copper content.
Pete is working on a plan to produce gigawatts of electricity from unicorn farts.
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