Seattle – Today, U.S. District Court Judge Tana Lin in the Western District Court of Washington will hear oral argument in State of Washington v. U.S. Department of Transportation—a challenge brought by 21 states to the Trump administration’s unlawful freeze of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program, a $5 billion initiative to build high-speed EV charging infrastructure along America’s highways.
The Sierra Club and partner organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, Climate Solutions, Plug-In America, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, West End Revitalization Association, and CleanAIRE NC, are plaintiff-intervenors in the case.
Last June, Judge Lin issued a preliminary injunction that ordered the lifting of the freeze of roughly $1 billion for 14 states. Following the preliminary injunction, the Trump administration grudgingly restarted the program in August, but has continued to throw up roadblocks to access to funds for EV charging infrastructure in other contexts. The plaintiff states and NGO intervenors are seeking permanent judicial relief to prevent another unlawful freeze of the NEVI program.
Sierra Club Senior Attorney Joe Halso, presenting oral arguments on behalf of the NGO intervenors today, released the following statement: “Our number one goal is to protect states’ access to the funds needed to build EV charging stations along highways across the country, so our members can travel safely and reliably in their preferred vehicles. NEVI was enacted to solve a real problem for real people. The Trump administration acted illegally when it froze the NEVI program, and its policies and actions continue to threaten this critical program. Those threats put at risk critical investments that expand clean energy, clean our air, and help people save money. We’re continuing to fight for relief that will allow the essential infrastructure Congress envisioned to be built.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
About the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Since 1985, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy has worked to promote responsible and equitable energy choices to ensure clean, safe, and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. Learn more at www.cleanenergy.org.
