The EV industry in Michigan is commending the Biden administration for its recent investments in EV innovation and manufacturing.
As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, Michigan and seven other states will receive funds to boost their production of electric vehicles (EVs). Approximately $650 million will be allocated to retooling auto plants in Lansing and Marysville, specifically to manufacture newer models of EVs.
According to Sophia Schuster, policy principal for the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council, the funds provided should aid in tackling the issue of “brain drain” in the state. She highlighted that Michigan has experienced a sluggish population growth rate since 1990 and is currently ranked 49th in the United States.
Schuster expressed enthusiasm about the potential of investments in Michigan to not only attract and retain residents but also to create opportunities for the clean energy workforce. She highlighted the auto manufacturing industry as a particularly promising area for growth.
Michigan’s plans aim to maintain over 1,000 jobs and generate a handful of fresh employment opportunities. The Biden administration has already allocated billions of dollars toward diminishing vehicle emissions and addressing climate change. Notably, the transportation sector is responsible for the highest percentage of emissions in the United States.
According to Jane McCurry, the executive director of Clean Fuels Michigan, the renewable energy industry is currently experiencing an exhilarating period. Both public and private funds are being invested in alternative mobility sources such as zero-emission school buses and EV chargers. McCurry believes that this will result in consumers having more options.
McCurry emphasized that your choice of transportation can be fueled in your community, during your commute, or on your way up north for vacation. Public dollars play a crucial role in ensuring that people can travel to any destination within Michigan in a safe, efficient, effective, and enjoyable manner.
By 2030, Governor Gretchen Whitmer aims to construct 100,000 electric vehicle (EV) chargers across Michigan, to cater to 2 million vehicles.
