Deep East Texas Council of Governments and Economic Development District

There are several reasons Counties and Cities in the DETCOG Region should become involved in planning and placement of Electric Vehicle Fast Chargers in their jurisdictions:

 

There were 1,348,000 Electric and Plug-In Hybrid vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2023.

 

Many Electric and Plug-In Hybrid vehicle owners fall into the category of “Early Adopters” with disposable income. From an Economic Development viewpoint – you want these people visiting your County/City. Charging stations attract visitors who spend money at nearby businesses while their vehicles charge. These visits can also lead to new businesses coming to your County/City.

 

Deep East Texas is known for its natural beauty, outdoor activities, and scenic drives. By offering EV chargers, Counties/Cities can attract eco-conscious tourists and travelers who want to explore the region sustainably.

 

While home charging is common, not everyone has access to a garage or dedicated charging point. Public chargers provide an alternative for residents who live in apartments or lack private charging infrastructure.

 

Additionally, County/Cities can benefit from federal and state incentives for promoting EV infrastructure:

​

Funding for Charging Stations in Every County Seat

 

This funding is through the National EV Infrastructure (NEVI) program. See TxDOT’s Texas EV Planning site for the Texas Plan and associated information. In particular, see the Statewide Planning Map, and select “Alt Fuels – Electric” on the left to display current charging stations and ‘study areas’ (in blue) where the new NEVI chargers will be funded including the county seats in the ETCOG and DETCOG.

 

Existing Fast Chargers in DETCOG County Seats

 

See small yellow dots on the Statewide Planning Map mentioned above. We found the following:

 

• In Nacogdoches County – City of Nacogdoches

      Gateway Travel Plaza – TA Express

      Tesla Supercharger

      2615 NW Stallings Dr.

      Nacogdoches, TX 75964

 

• In Polk County – City of Livingston

      Valero Convenience Store –

      Tesla Supercharger

      1155 E Church St.

      Livingston, TX 77351

 

Additionally, there is a Fast Charger for most other Electric Vehicles:

 

• In San Jacinto County – City of Shepherd

      Shell Convenience Store

       J1772 Plug

      4700 US Hwy 59 North

      Shepherd, TX 77371

 

Data on Traffic Through County Seats

 

The Statewide Traffic Analysis and Reporting System (STARS II) appears to have this data, in the Traffic Count Database System. (Note: At the top of the screen there is a list to the TCDS User Manual and a “?” button.)

 

Rural School Districts

 

Electric school bus grants are available from the EPA and TCEQ’s Clean School Bus programs.  The Martinsville ISD in Nacogdoches County has recently converted all their routes to electric buses.

 

The Texas Electric School Bus Project is a useful resource in helping to apply for electric school bus grants.

 

Other Incentives for Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations

 

Federal Incentives for electric vehicles and charging stations available to private (corporate) as well as public entities, and mentions the state incentives available from TCEQ.

 

USDA Presentation from last summer, specifically focused on their programs, funding and support of transportation electrification in rural areas.

 

And lastly, the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) Initiative. In particular, the Rural EV Infrastructure Toolkit might be useful:

 

“This toolkit is meant to be a one-stop resource to help rural communities scope, plan, and identify ways to fund EV-charging infrastructure. A rural organization or individual—such as a property owner, business, city, Tribe, or planning or transit agency—can use the toolkit to identify key partners for a project, take advantage of relevant planning tools, and identify available funding or financing to help make that project a reality.”