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Biden Admin Awards $623 Million in Grants to Expand EV Charging Infrastructure
Biden Admin Awards $623 Million in Grants to Expand EV Charging Infrastructure The Biden Administration has announced that it has awarded grants worth a combined $623 million to help expand EV charging infrastructure in the United States. Administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the grants are funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs…
Read MoreUPDATE: U.S. House to Vote on Imported Material Exception for EV Chargers
UPDATE: U.S. House to Vote on Imported Material Exception for EV Chargers The United States House of Representatives plans to vote this week on a resolution that would nullify a rule – finalized by the Federal Highway Administration – that would temporarily waive certain domestic content requirements for electric vehicle (EV) chargers funded through the…
Read MoreU.S. House Committee Examines Health of Nation’s Small Business Environment
U.S. House Committee Examines Health of Nation’s Small Business Environment Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business held its last hearing of the year, titled “A Year in Review: The State of Small Business in America.” The committee heard testimony from four small business owners who described the factors contributing to…
Read MoreLiDAR Imports and Exports to and from China Scrutinized by U.S. House Members
LiDAR Imports and Exports to and from China Scrutinized by U.S. House Members A bipartisan group of twenty members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to the Secretaries of the Departments of Defense, Commerce, and the Treasury raising concern with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology imports and exports to and from…
Read MoreProgress Towards Building EV Charging Network using Federal Dollars Varies by State
Progress Towards Building EV Charging Network using Federal Dollars Varies by State The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021 allocated $7.5 billion towards building a national EV charging network. Each state assumes responsibility for spending those funds and implementation oversight. As expected, the current status this endeavor varies by state. No EV charger…
Read MoreFTC Returns Additional $857K to Those Harmed by Junk Auto Fee Practices
FTC Returns Additional $857K to Those Harmed by Junk Auto Fee Practices The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced it is disbursing more than $857,000 cumulatively in its second round of compensatory payments to customers harmed by Napleton Automotive Group’s illegal junk fees and discriminatory practices. Napleton Automotive Group, which is based in Illinois, is…
Read MorePanel Releases Report on OSHA’s Possible Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Rulemaking
Panel Releases Report on OSHA’s Possible Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Rulemaking A Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) panel tasked with reviewing a possible Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Settings regulation from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has produced its final report. The report identifies the automotive repair…
Read MoreEPA Excludes MVAC Fluid Recovery from Final Ruling on Hydrofluorocarbons
EPA Excludes MVAC Fluid Recovery from Final Ruling on Hydrofluorocarbons Yesterday, the EPA released its final rulemaking on the Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs): Management of Certain Hydrofluorocarbons and Substitutes under Section (h) of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020. Notably for automotive repairers, the regulation excludes any mention of the recovery/recycling/reclamation of MVAC…
Read MoreMaine House Committee Chair Opposes Referendum Question 4
Maine House Committee Chair Opposes Referendum Question 4 Representative Tiffany Roberts (Dem, District 149) – House Chair of the Maine Legislature’s Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee – announced her opposition to referendum question 4 in a guest column in the Portland Press Herald. If approved, the ballot measure – which Mainers will have…
Read MoreHearing in U.S. House Held on Autonomous Trucks
Hearing in U.S. House Held on Autonomous Trucks On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, held a hearing on autonomous heavy-duty vehicles. Elected officials on the committee heard testimony from and asked questions directed towards the following witnesses: Chris Urmson, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer,…
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