Spanberger, Rice Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Ability to Charge Electric Pickups & Farm Equipment in Rural America

Statement

U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) -- Chair of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee's Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee -- and Tom Rice (R-SC-07) today introduced bipartisan legislation to help farms and rural communities take advantage of the latest electric pickup trucks and tractors.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Rural Energy for American Program (REAP) provides financial assistance to farmers, producers, and rural business owners to install renewable energy systems and adopt cutting-edge energy efficiency measures. But much of rural America lacks reliable access to one of the most exciting new developments in the renewable energy space -- electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, and REAP funding cannot currently be used to support these physical improvements.

At a hearing of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday, Spanberger announced the introduction of the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure for Farmers Act. This bipartisan bill would allow REAP funding to be used for installing EV charging infrastructure for light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty EV vehicles -- including pickup trucks, combines, and tractors used on American farms. Click here to watch or download Spanberger's comments.

"As we watch the rapid development and production of new electric vehicles, we need to prevent rural America from getting left behind in the conversation. Electric vehicles of the future are not just for cities -- they also stand to deliver major benefits to farms, agribusinesses, and rural communities in Virginia and across the country," said Spanberger. "Virginia's crop and livestock producers are ready to seize the opportunities EV technology can provide. The Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure for Farmers Act takes a successful and popular program -- the REAP program -- and makes sure its funding can be used to support expanded EV charging networks in all of our communities, large and small. This commonsense change would give our farmers and agribusinesses a competitive economic edge, greatly benefit our environment, and establish new markets for homegrown manufacturers of electric pickups, tractors, combines, and more. I am proud to stand with Congressman Rice as we lead the charge to cut red tape, expand EV infrastructure, and help more American farmers keep their operations strong."

"I'm proud to co-lead this legislation which will help our 7th District farmers and agriculture producers," said Rice. "While farmers explore ways to be more energy efficient, this legislation will expand the types of systems and equipment eligible for grant funding under USDA's Rural Energy for America program. If passed, agriculture producers will have greater flexibility to use their grant funds to help electrify both light-duty vehicles and heavy-duty equipment such as pickup trucks, combines, and tractors."

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