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Biden, a Democrat, signed the $1 trillion infrastructure bill
into law on Monday and, with his approval ratings sagging, is
eager to promote it as the fulfillment of a promise he made as a
presidential candidate in the 2020 race for the White House.
The law, which passed with support from Democrats and
Republicans, provides $7.5 billion in funding to build out the
nation’s electric vehicle charging network, investments the
industry says will inspire more Americans to buy electric
vehicles and manufacturers to produce them.
It provides money to build EV chargers along highway corridors
and within communities to help facilitate long-distance and
local travel.
Biden will highlight the investments during a visit to a General
Motors Co electric vehicle assembly plant in Detroit, the
largest city in Michigan, a key political battleground state in
U.S. elections. [L1N2S72E9]
The president will deliver remarks on how the law "builds
electric vehicle charging stations across the country to make it
easier to drive an electric vehicle, reduces emissions to fight
the climate crisis, and creates good-paying, union jobs across
the country," the White House said in a statement.
A broad transition to electric cars and trucks will help the
United States meet Biden's pledge to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas
emissions 50% from 2005 levels by 2030.
Democrats are working on a separate social spending and climate
bill that contains up to $12,500 in tax credits for U.S.-made
EVs, including a $4,500 credit for union-made vehicles. The bill
is a key pillar of Biden's domestic agenda but has faced hurdles
to passage from competing views between progressive and moderate
lawmakers in his party.
(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Mary Milliken and Stephen
Coates)
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