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Trump unplugs federal funding for Louisiana EV charging stations • Louisiana Illuminator

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lailluminator.com – Wesley Muller – 2025-02-07 15:20:00

Trump unplugs federal funding for Louisiana EV charging stations

by Wesley Muller, Louisiana Illuminator
February 7, 2025

President Donald Trump has suspended all federal funding, including money for Louisiana projects, that he considers part of a wider “scam” to force people to buy electric vehicles. 

Congress allocated $73 million to Louisiana in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as part of its National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. At Trump’s direction, the Federal Highway Administration issued a memo Wednesday to suspend the program and withhold any money that hasn’t already been spent. 

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development was slated to disburse the NEVI dollars among local companies to build EV charging stations along the state’s interstate corridors. Businesses interested in building the stations would be able to compete for the money, with DOTD issuing grants to cover up to 80% of the project costs. 

Louisiana lagged behind most other states in rolling out its NEVI grant program, but state transportation officials managed to launch it just before Trump took office and had begun accepting grant applications. 

Louisiana lags on electric vehicle charging program, but DOTD sees ‘no reason to rush’

There was no immediate response to questions about the NEVI program from DOTD Public Information Officer Rodney Mallet or the department’s media staff.

The agency has closed its online NEVI grant application portal and added a notice in red capital letters: “INDEFINITELY POSTPONED PENDING FHA REVIEW.”  

Trump has repeatedly expressed his dislike of President Joe Biden’s signature legislative achievements that included funding for clean energy and transportation technology. Despite this, EV demand has surged in the U.S. and around the world, according to an analysis from Cox Automotive.

Trump’s move could be temporary. The FHA memo said the administration plans to review each state’s grant process before unfreezing the money. 

Ryan McKinnon of the Charge Ahead Partnership, which lobbies for EV charging standards, issued a statement Friday in defense of the NEVI program, saying the EV charging marketplace faced many problems long before NEVI’s existence with unfair competition from electric utilities poorly-planned installations. 

When interest in electric vehicles first began to grow, many chargers were placed in locations where drivers rarely stopped and were often not maintained. NEVI started to change that by prioritizing establishments that had successful business models for EV charging and placing chargers along busy roadways where drivers used them, McKinnon said. 

“We hope the FHWA takes this opportunity to ensure state NEVI plans are encouraging private investment in EV charging while also being confident that federal funds are not being wasted,” he said.

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Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Saturday 10 PM Tropics Update: One far-off tropical wave to watch

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www.youtube.com – WWLTV – 2025-09-13 22:34:05

SUMMARY: A tropical wave near Africa is emerging over the Atlantic but remains disorganized. The National Hurricane Center gives it a 60% chance to develop into a depression or tropical storm, possibly becoming Gabrielle. This system may move northward, staying over the open Atlantic and away from the Gulf, posing no immediate threat. Since the last named storm in late August, stable air, dry conditions, and increased wind shear have suppressed tropical activity in the Atlantic. The next storm names are Gabrielle, Humberto, and Imelda, with only the current wave showing potential for development at this time.

Meteorologist Alexandra Cranford tracks a lone disturbance with a chance of development on Saturday night, September 13, 2025.

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Haynes wanted in on Wildlife bribery scheme too, informant says

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thecurrentla.com – Leslie Turk – 2025-09-11 15:30:00

SUMMARY: Dusty Guidry, a former consultant who pleaded guilty to accepting $800,000 in bribes, testified that Assistant District Attorney Gary Haynes sought involvement in a bribery scheme at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. Haynes, on trial for conspiracy, bribery, money laundering, and obstruction, was previously appointed to run Lafayette’s pretrial diversion program after supporting DA Don Landry. Guidry revealed Haynes pressured him to include him in a similar diversion program scheme at Wildlife & Fisheries, receiving checks totaling $90,000. The scheme involved splitting bribes among Guidry, vendor Leonard Franques, and former department secretary Jack Montoucet, who has also been charged. The statewide program never launched.

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OPPJ Comprehensive Plan

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www.youtube.com – KTVE – 2025-09-10 21:15:08

SUMMARY: The Ouachita Parish Police Jury is conducting a series of community meetings to gather public input for their comprehensive plan guiding future growth. Police Jury members, including Larry Bratton from District D, emphasize the importance of reflecting residents’ voices in the master plan. Community members participated in interactive stations, allocating resources to priorities like infrastructure and downtown development, to help shape goals for the next 2, 5, and 20 years. Landscape architect Matt Pizatella and partners from Atlas support the effort. Bratton stresses that without proactive planning, the parish risks costly and less beneficial outcomes in the long term.

OPPJ Comprehensive Plan

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