The Biden administration has been criticized for designating some of the nation's most affluent areas as "low-income," thereby making them eligible for subsidies under the electric vehicle (EV) charger tax credit program.
This program, part of President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), aims to direct subsidies to "low-income" or "non-urban" regions, aligning with the administration's broader commitment to "environmental justice," a fusion of social justice ideology and green policy.
A Daily Caller News Foundation analysis of the Department of Energy's (DOE) interactive eligibility map revealed that several high-end locations, including Montauk and Fishers Island in New York, and parts of Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket in Massachusetts, have been classified as "low-income" and are thus eligible for EV charger subsidies.
The Biden administration's EV agenda includes the development of a nationwide charging network. However, the existing charging infrastructure is primarily located in wealthier, densely populated coastal regions. The tax credit program is intended to offset the costs of charger construction in less affluent, non-urban areas that are less likely to install them.
The White House stated on Jan. 19 that "This tax credit provides up to 30% off the cost of the charger to individuals and businesses in low-income communities and non-urban areas, making it more affordable to install EV charging infrastructure and increasing access to EV charging in underserved communities."
To qualify as "low-income," a Census tract must have a poverty rate of 20% or more, or the median family income must be below 80% of the median family income in the wider metropolitan area or the state if the Census tract is not part of a metropolitan area, according to section 45D(e) of the Internal Revenue Code.
However, this definition allows areas that may not be typically considered "low-income" to qualify for the credit if they are located in a wealthy state or metropolitan area. For instance, nearly half of Nantucket Island, a popular vacation spot for New England's elite, is eligible for EV charger subsidies, according to the DOE's interactive eligibility map.
Similarly, the Vineyard Haven area of Marthas Vineyard, another high-end destination, is also classified as a "low-income" area. Many homes in this area are valued at over $1 million, with several properties valued between $2 million and $5 million. Former President Barack Obama owns a $11.7 million estate on the island.
Large sections of Cape Cod, including Hyannis, the Kennedy political dynasty's longtime home base, and Great Island, known for its multi-million dollar properties, are also eligible for "low income" EV subsidies. The entirety of Fishers Island, New York, a vacation spot for old-money families like the Roosevelts, Rockefellers, and DuPonts, is also deemed a "low-income" area eligible for subsidies, according to the Biden DOE.
A significant portion of Montauk, a high-end Long Island vacation spot, is also eligible for "low income" EV charger subsidies through 2029, according to the DOE's map. Some of the property valuations in the "low-income" zone of Montauk are exorbitant, with one home valued at $17 million on Zillow.
In New York City, a three-block zone in the upscale Upper East Side area and a 28-block region near Times Square in the middle of Manhattan are eligible as "low-income" zones, according to the DOE's map.
A pocket of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, located just miles from President Joe Bidens summer residence, is also eligible for the subsidies as a low-income zone, according to the DOEs map. Multiple properties located in Rehoboth Beachs low-income tract are valued in excess of $2 million, with one valued at over $4 million and another valued at over $6 million, according to Zillow.
Several affluent West Coast locales are also considered "low-income" by the Biden administration. Large parts of San Francisco and several blocks of the renowned Beverly Hills area in Los Angeles are eligible as "low-income" zones for the subsidies, according to the DOEs map. This is despite the fact that property values in these areas are almost universally well above $1 million.
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