Chris McLean, Assistant Administrator for Electric Program at the USDA Rural Utilities Services (RUS) gave this presentation at Forth Design and Fund Equitable Electric Mobility For Your Community workshop on March 14, 2024.

1. USDA’s EV Charging Infrastructure Solutions
Presented by
Christopher A. McLean
Assistant Administrator
Rural Utilities Service
Electric Programs

2. Electric
Vehicles
are Here!
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3. Impact on EV Rollout in Rural Areas
• Rural Electric Cooperatives serve 20% of Americans.
• That service territory covers 70% of America’s
highway route miles.
• DOE/DOT will be providing funding for community
chargers, then site specific chargers soon
• Many areas do not have sufficient power lines to
handle DC Fast chargers.
• Tight implementation timeline
• Funding questions
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4. 4

5. • Projections are for at least 50% of the
US Auto market to be EV’s by 2035
• Electric and auto energy/fuel use per
day are similar, meaning projections
are electric energy use could increase
by 50%
• If this is accurate, IOU’s, Municpals,
Tribal Utilities and Cooperatives must
prepare NOW, and figure out how to
build and pay (or charge) for this
infrastructure growth requirement
Planning Considerations
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6. • Prepare for conversion of construction and farm equipment to
electric power
• Addition of semi trucks and other vehicles (highway buses)
with different charger types
• Separate rate schedules may need to be developed and
approved by Board, PUC, etc.
• Prepare for site expansion and/or growth (current design is a
minimum of 4 DC fast chargers per highway charging site)
• Renewable and battery storage as a phase 1.5 activity
Other Considerations
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7. • Generation and/or load could affect distribution grid, necessitating
a significant (and time-consuming) design/build process.
o Conductor upgrades (1 to 3 phase, heavy up, etc.)
o New line installations
o Voltage regulators/capacitors
o New transmission
o New substations/or expand load capacity of existing stations
• Environmental Review could affect design and timeline
Other Planning Issues for Cooperatives
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8. • Federal Family (EPA, DOE, DOT, USDA, others)
• States – Including state Transportation & Education departments
• Electric Service Providers
• Municipalities
• Local School Systems
• Public or Private Entities
EV Charging Network Rollout Players
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9. • Community Facilities – Buildings, EV’s, Community
Improvements for municipal and non-profits
• Rural Electrification Act Loans – Low-cost loans for rural utility
owned charging stations and related infrastructure
• Rural Energy For America Program – Farm and Residential Energy
Efficiency Projects
• Rural Energy Savings Program – Relending for EE measures
including behind the meter EV chargers owned by ratepayers
USDA is here to help cover EV - Gap funding!
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10. • Cover meter side shortfalls above grant allocation (including the
20% above EV charger grant)
• Additional costs for more than 4 DC Fast chargers per site
• Solar and Battery Storage on same site – increased reliability
• Cover the Electric line extension costs and the install cost of a
broadband drop
Sample RESP Funding for EV Activities
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11. RESP Overview
RUS
$
Eligible Borrower
Consumer for EE Measures @
qualified consumer’s facilities
Loan @ 5% or
less for up to
10 years.
0% for up
20 years.
Manufactured home energy efficiency
retrofit or full replacement
(cost effectiveness required)
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12. RUS Loan Financing EV Charging Infrastructure
• RUS will consider requests to finance the construction/installation of EV chargers
owned by the cooperative under our conventional infrastructure lending program.
o Can be for the cooperative’s own use and/or use by the public/members.
• A borrower’s construction of the necessary utility side improvements to service the
EV charger is eligible for conventional RUS infrastructure financing as well.
• RUS will also consider requests to finance a cooperative’s purchase of electric
vehicles that the cooperative utilizes in support of utility operations.
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13. Who is your Point of Contact at USDA?
Rural Development State Directors:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices
Electric Program Contact Information:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/electric-programs
Electric Program General Field Representatives (GFR’s):
https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/electric-gfr
USDA- Rural Development
Together, America Prospers
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14. Christopher A. McLean
Assistant Administrator
Rural Utilities Service
Electric Programs
Christopher.McLean@usda.gov
Thank You!