The above video is KXAN coverage from Feb. 20 on federal grant funding uncertainties related to Austin’s Interstate 35 Cap and Stitch project.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Amid switch ups in federal leadership and questions over previously awarded federal grants, Austin Energy leaders confirmed two grant awards it recently received are also facing uncertainties.
Austin Energy received a $15 million grant back in the fall to support the strategic deployment of electric vehicle chargers in Austin, as well as a nearly $32 million grant for its Solar for All efforts. Those federal funding sources remain in limbo as city leadership determine how new federal grant guidelines from President Donald Trump’s administration will impact those awards.
Trump signed an executive order that directed agencies to put a pause on funding disbursements previously greenlit under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as well as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
“Consistent with the City’s approach, we are continuing to complete required work on these grants to ensure we meet all compliance requirements,” Austin Energy officials said in a Monday memo. “Austin Energy learned late last week that the pause was lifted on the Solar for All grant. We will continue to update you on the status of these grants.”
On the EV charging front, Austin Energy’s grant proposal featured an early analysis of publicly owned and operated locations in both Austin and Travis County that could hose DC Fast Charging and Level 2 charging infrastructure. The grant also outlined investments in underutilized or underserviced areas, including:
- Justice40 identified concentrated areas of poverty
- Multi-family density sites
- Schools and educational institutions
- Public parks
- Shared-use fleets, services
- Rural area charging and fueling solutions
If federal guidelines allow the grant award to move forward, Austin Energy will work with local partners on site analyses of the proposed charging locations as well as look for partners to help own and operate the charging infrastructure. There will also be community engagement and educational opportunities included related to the site selection process.
For the Solar for All, the project is designed to merge grant dollars with private funding to “create the maximum number of beneficial solar and storage projects that target benefits to low-income populations,” per the memo. The plan’s guidance noted all system hosts will be situated within disadvantaged communities and qualifying low-income customers can also subscribe to the renewable energy created and can receive a 20% bill savings.
Austin City Council will consider Thursday an interlocal agreement with Harris County for the Solar for All grant. Currently, Harris County heads the Texas coalition that received the federal funding.
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