Colorado announces $5 million in grants for new high-speed fast-chargers for EVs. But the Trump administration continues to push back against this big pivot.
by Allen Best
Fairplay has two direct-current fast-charging portals for EVs. It will be getting another one, a testament to the growing volume of EVs on Colorado roads and highways.
The station will be among nine locations in Colorado that will altogether have 52 new ports, the result of $5 million in grants distributed by the Colorado Energy Office. The grants come from state, not federal funds.
On the Western Slope, Mancos, Naturita and Ridgway will also get new charging stations as a result of the grants. This is in addition to Woodland Park in the foothills of the Front Range and Commerce City, Denver, and Glendale in the metropolitan area.
Colorado now has more than 1,400 fast-charging ports, some privately owned and others the result of state and federal grants.
In 2018, Colorado adopted a goal of having 940,000 light-duty EVs on its roads by 2030. To give drivers assurances that they would not be stranded with no place to charge their batteries, the state in 2020 launched a program to subsidize placement of fast-chargers at locations along Colorado’s highways and in select other locations.
Colorado’s program was paused following the Congressional approval in 2021 in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of $5 billion to pay for the high-speed EV chargers along the nation’s highway corridors. It’s called the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program.
The Trump administration earlier this year halted distribution of the $3 billion yet to be distributed. Colorado and 13 other states sued the Trump administration, and in late July a federal judge in Washington state ordered the Trump crew to resume distribution of the money. :This round of grants, however, comes from state funds.
In announcing the $5 million in state grants, Gov. Jared Polis alluded to this tussle..
“Despite the Trump administration continuing to increase costs and go against the market-driven transition that many Coloradans are making to electric vehicles, Colorado continues to doour part to lead the way and save people money,” he said in a prepared statement.
Will Toor, the director of the Colorado Energy Office mentioned “daunting federal hurdles” in the same announcement.
“Addressing these challenges is so important because the transition to electric vehicles lowers costs, improves air quality, and helps us meet our greenhouse gas pollution reduction goals,” he said.
“This grant program is a valuable reminder that, despite the headwinds, we are undaunted and remain clear-eyed and focused on continuing to build enough public electric vehicle charging infrastructure to meet Colorado’s goal of supporting 940,000 light-duty EVs on Colorado roads by 2030.”
The program currently has produced charging stations at 13 locations, including Montrose, Frisco, Pueblo, Cortez, Longmont, Seibert and Limon. Plus Lamar (see top photo).
For a longer and more pessimistic view, see Robinson Meyer’s column in the New York Times on Sunday: “Trump is destroying the future of America to own the libs.”
Meyer, the executive editor of Heatmap, said that Trump and his team “have begun a regulatory coup to smother new power development.” He cites the veto of the Grain Belt Express transmission line across the Midwest by Energy Secretary (and Denver resident) Chris Wright as well as the actions of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum
As to EVs in particular, he says that while Republicans in their tax bill this year left in place some subsidies for companies that produce EVs, they stripped incentives to help consumers buy or lease electric vehicles. This is having ripple effects. He contrasts this with what China has been doing.
“EVs are to the 21st century what gasoline-burning cars were to the 20th century: an important ‘apex’ industry that builds on and incorporates the work of other sectors, like steel, mining and chemicals,” he writes.
“Smothering the EV industry might have been merely a regrettable mistake for a Republican to make 10 years ago. Today, it is economic idiocy.”
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In November 2024 I purchased a Chevrolet Equinox EV. After driving it for 11,500 miles I am really impressed. Like other EVs, they are fantastic cars. If you are driving less than about 300 miles per day and able to charge at home, they make tremendous sense.
I charge mine with solar energy and my system has been paid off for years so I am getting “free gas.” Coupled with almost zero maintenance costs – have to rotate the tires every 7,500 miles.
When I do a road trip, my GPS allows me to select numerous charging stations along the way. While more expensive than home charging, it is nice to take a 30-45 minute break to eat lunch or stretch. They are smooth, powerful, quiet and comfortable with lots of high end features available on ICE cars.
I doubt that I will ever buy another ICE car. The Trump administration’s plan to drag us back into the 1900’s and drill-baby-drill programs are just plain stupid.