The town of Porter may finally be in line to receive promised federal grant money to help pay for electric-powered pickup trucks and charging stations, more than three years after the award was made.
But during the past three years, a number of conditions have changed that make Porter town officials wary about the deal.
Porter Public Works Director James Spanier during Tuesday’s Town Council meeting noted the deal was “back from the dead.” He said that he recently received word from Drive Clean Indiana, a nonprofit, that Porter could order the vehicles in January.
However, there has been a change in some of the grant’s terms.
The $4 million grant was awarded in May 2022, enabling municipalities in Porter and Lake counties to obtain electric trucks and charging stations. The original source of the federal dollars was the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which then-President Joe Biden signed on Nov. 5, 2021. One of the stated goals was to address climate change.
Distribution of the grant dollars was held up locally because a number of parties were involved. Spanier said the issue was settled by the State Board of Accounts, and each community can receive their allotment starting in January. Drive Clean Indiana is overseeing the process.
The federal grant would have originally paid 80% of the cost of a Ford Lightning F-150, priced at $55,000 in 2023. That means Porter would have paid $66,000 for a fleet of six new electric pickup trucks. The grant would also pay 80% of a charging station’s price, which is priced at $20,000.
But now, the grant requires the local community to pay for 36% of the cost. Costs for the Ford Lightning F-150s have also risen, Spanier said.
If Porter went forward with ordering six Ford Lightning F-150 trucks, the town would have to come up with $112,320, which is an estimated $18,720 per vehicle.
There are some limitations with the electric-powered trucks — snow shovels don’t work on them — that have caused Porter officials to pause.
Spanier said that if the town went forward, ordering three F-150 Lightning trucks would be more likely.
But then, there are other obstacles. Finances are expected to be tight for the next few years because of Senate Bill 1 passed this year, which limits the future growth of property tax revenue for local municipalities.
When purchasing the vehicles, the town would have to pay full price up front for the vehicles and be reimbursed.
Councilman James Burge, I-4th Ward, said that President Donald Trump’s administration is notably anti-electric vehicle, and there is a danger that money allocated for the grant could be suddenly withdrawn.
Council President Laura Madigan, D-1st Ward, and Town Clerk-Treasurer Corinne Peffers said there is a real concern that the town could purchase the vehicles and then not be reimbursed.
“I don’t know if I want to gamble with the taxpayer’s money,” Madigan said.”If this falls through, I would be sick about it.”
Madigan said “a sour taste has been left in my mouth from the last three years” of dealing with the grant.
More Top Picks Best Outdoor Sectionals
Spanier said there is an alternative with the charging stations. He said under the grant, a charging station could be built that would be hooked up with Wi-Fi at a lower cost.
Council decided that it would delay any decision until they obtain more information.
In other business, the council unanimously approved a $30,000 contract with Commonwealth Engineers, Inc. to study the main sewer line issue on the north side of Porter.
Michael Barry, the town’s development director/building commissioner, said that the problem is infiltration of water from storm events into the old 18-inch clay sewer line that runs from Marquardt Street and up Waverly Road to serve older subdivisions north of U.S. 20.
If the clay pipe were relined, it would cut down on infiltration during storm events, which would save the town a significant amount of money.
Spanier said that the old sewer line that serves Porter’s downtown was relined years ago, and it significantly cut the sewer bill that the town has to pay Chesterton for treating sewage.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.