BOISE, Idaho — (October 17, 2023) Today, the State of Idaho announced the approval of the 2023 National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program Baseline Plan Update by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This milestone marks the next critical advancement of Idaho’s deployment of funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) established the NEVI Formula Program. The NEVI Formula Program’s goal is to build a strategic, interconnected network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations for confidence, access, and reliability. The NEVI Formula Program is administered by the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), the Idaho Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources (OEMR), and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
The original Idaho NEVI Baseline Plan, was submitted by the state in August of 2022. Federal requirements for the program necessitate an annual update to states’ plans for the duration of the program. The 2023 NEVI Formula Program Baseline Plan Update was submitted on August 1, 2023. This update includes a comprehensive summary of the vision and goals of the program; community and public involvement efforts; contracting approach; civil rights considerations; existing and future conditions analysis; infrastructure deployment; implementation plan; equity considerations; labor and workforce considerations; physical and cybersecurity; and program evaluation. The recently approved updated plan can be found here.
“The approval of Idaho’s update to the NEVI baseline plan is a key milestone for the effective deployment of electric vehicle infrastructure in Idaho,” said Rich Stover, administrator of the Idaho Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources.
Projects funded through NEVI can receive up to 80% reimbursement; site owners are responsible for the remaining costs. Funding can be used for the physical infrastructure, operations and maintenance of the charging stations, as well as eligible supporting infrastructure.
The next phase of the NEVI Formula Program is the completion of the Siting, Feasibility, and Access Study (SFAS), which evaluates specific potential site locations throughout the state and reviews the technical viability of those locations for an EV charging station. The SFAS takes into consideration zoning, environmental implications, power resources, traffic patterns, capacity, existing infrastructure and more.
The State of Idaho will soon announce the first NEVI Formula Program Request for Proposals (RFPs) in three areas in Bliss, Pocatello, or Lewiston, of which two will be selected. Interested site hosts can email the NEVI Formula Program project team.
