Wisconsin was awarded in October a $1 million Statewide Economic Development Planning grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to chart a path toward electric vehicle adoption in Wisconsin.
The grant, which is funded with federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is part of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda aimed at supporting economic recovery from the pandemic by boosting economic development, combating the climate crisis, and enhancing U.S. competitiveness.
The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) – in partnership with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and the Department of Transportation (WisDOT) – submitted a winning proposal focused on analysis and planning to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption and carbon reduction while fueling the development of Wisconsin’s EV and electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) manufacturing.
“More and more Wisconsin motorists and vehicle fleets are turning to electric vehicles,” said Craig Thompson, Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary. “If Wisconsin is going to remain competitive, we need to develop the infrastructure to make and fuel electric vehicles, and this grant will help us do just that.”
The work funded by this grant will build on that of the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change, the State Lead by Example, and the ongoing efforts of WEDC, and WisDOT.
It will also build on critical work by the Wisconsin Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy, which is drafting a Wisconsin Clean Energy Plan with the input of industry, advocacy, government, and community leaders.
Listening sessions for the Clean Energy Plan are currently being held virtually, including a session focused on transit and transportation scheduled for October 26. More information is available at osce.wi.gov.
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Robert Fischer is a WiACES board member, President of GTiMA, a Technology and Policy Advisor to Mandli Communications, and an Associate Editor of the SAE International Journal of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles.