Tulsa-based Francis Energy confident of growth, despite pause in federal grant program

Tulsa-based Francis Energy is confident of continued growth in EV adoption and the need for charging infrastructure, despite uncertainty about federal subsidies to speed up the buildout. The company markets and manages commercial-grade EV chargers, and claims it has one every 50 miles in Oklahoma.

The Trump Administration has paused grants awarded to states from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. Oklahoma's Department of Transportation had been awarded $66 million for the work.

Francis Energy works in many states, and Chief of Staff Megan Charles said out of 132 grant awards it has under NEVI, 75 remain active across 15 states.

"For the states that are paused, we're just waiting for new guidance, and we're hoping that will be released in spring or early summer," she said.

Government data from 2023 listed 375 EV Charging stations in Oklahoma, with 1,567 charging ports. There were 22,843 EVs registered in the state.

A new budget proposed in Congress would eliminate subsidies for some green energy-related manufacturing, along with incentives for drivers to buy EVs, but Oklahoma Republican Congressman Josh Brecheen wants Congress to go further and repeal all green energy subsidies in the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act.

Related: Energy Efficiency Tax Credits