My first reaction to a story about one million dollars in state grants to build EV Charging stations was, “Where’s the grant money to help build gas stations?” Or, more correctly, if we aren’t giving out grants for that- and we don’t, as far as I can tell- then why would we give grants for this?
About $1 million in grant funding for electric vehicle charging stations is up for grabs in a program the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and Department of Business and Economic Affairs said is intended to boost the state’s economy and air quality.
As a reminder, before I proceed, “The NH Bulletin is a Privately Funded Media Laundromat for Approved Democrat Narratives.” It is affiliated with States Newsroom, funded by deep-pocketed progressive actors, and exists to blend local news with content that leans into the approved progressive narrative.
Where were we?
“Installing public charging infrastructure at travel- and tourism-oriented locations will support the local economies of New Hampshire communities and enable EV-driving residents and visitors to feel confident in exploring all that New Hampshire has to offer,” Business and Economic Affairs Commissioner Lucy Lange said in the release.
Maybe, but why are taxpayers fronting the cash to encourage them? And don’t give me that “we’ll” make the money back in tourism crap. I don’t see you ponying up cash to add more gas stations complete with air for tires and mini-marts filled with impulse buys at twice the normal cost. A far more lucrative venture for the state economy than an EV charger.
The estimated total number of EVs in New Hampshire is under 10,000, and in New England at about 86,000. New England has over four million registered vehicles. That’s 2.4% and 2%, respectively.
I can think of more than a few things we could do with a million dollars, not the least of which is to leave it in the pockets of the people who earned it. They could then decide whether to spend a day leaf-peeping along the Kancamagus Highway or use it to buy an EV, which is unlikely despite the glowing growth numbers estimated by the people spending our money and the NH Bulletin.
EV sales are in decline. Used EVs aren’t worth much for obvious reasons, retaining a quarter to a third of what a used internal combustion engine vehicle does. Major manufacturers have rolled back EV production, and the only way that is likely to change is if the government, state or federal, steals money from someone else to provide taxpayer-funded incentives to lower the sale price.
That is the same sort of government intervention as using taxpayer money to build
“charging stations” for something (EVs) that isn’t even green.
And if you’re not giving out grants to build gas stations, and you shouldn’t – if there’s value in it, the free market will pay for that itself- you shouldn’t be giving out grants for this.
