Governors Address Range Anxiety in Midwest
October 2, 2021
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With a mind to the future of the midwest’s auto manufacturing future, rust belt governor’s joined to coordinate an optimal EV charging network.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is joining her colleagues in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to work together on electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the Midwest region, by signing the Regional Electric Vehicle for the Midwest Memorandum of Understanding (REV Midwest).
The purpose of REV Midwest is to mutually accelerate vehicle electrification throughout the Midwest Region.
REV Midwest is designed to provide the foundation for car electrification. It is also intended to create vital commercial corridors to safeguard economic security, grow jobs, futureproof interstate commerce, reduce harmful emissions, improve public health, and advance innovation.
The memorandum is also aimed at ensuring the entire Midwest region can efficiently compete for new private investment and federal funding for vehicle electrification.
“Today’s REV Midwest partnership is a bipartisan effort to build the future of mobility and electrification and connect our communities,” said Gov. Whitmer. “Our partnership will enable the Midwest to lead on electric vehicle adoption, reduce carbon emissions, spur innovation, and create good-paying jobs.”
In a rare moment of bipartisan agreement, Whitmer’s enthusiasm on the collaboration of Midwest governors was shared by the group.
“The Midwest has the ingenuity and the drive to develop innovative solutions to curb climate change,” said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. “I am proud to work with my fellow Midwest governors to not only reduce pollution, but protect public health, create jobs, and increase consumer choice across the region.”
Increasing access to charging infrastructure and reducing anxiety potential electric car buyers feel about range is predicted to support electric vehicle adoption.
An estimated 105,000 new jobs in the utility sector are predicted to be needed to deploy EV charging infrastructure by 2030. The states will work together with the industry to understand future workforce needs and support workforce training programs to build the transportation system of the future.
Climate Denial Crock of the Week 
October 2, 2021 at 11:45 pm
Little reminder, all this increasing demand for electricity must come from low carbon sources.
Side issue. Am not receiving Crock notifications. So if a real person does not receive a response I probably didn’t see, or can not find, the post.
October 4, 2021 at 1:32 am
It doesn’t all have to come from clean energy sources to make a big difference.
October 4, 2021 at 3:16 am
As we’ve been reminded recently, even switching all light duty vehicles to electricity will only result in (IIRC) about a 15% increase in needed electrical generation. A lot of that can be taken care of with generation already happening but curtailed or otherwise wasted for lack of transmission and coordination; most of the rest met with efficiency and demand response, and whatever’s left is such an infinitesimal part of the increase in clean safe renewable energy capacity we need, it’s insignificant—within the margin of error. Of course an even better idea is to meet all long distance transportation needs with public transit—rail, light rail, high speed rail, EV buses and jitneys, etc.
October 4, 2021 at 5:29 am
Dunno about that. To use carbon to create mechanical energy, to generate electricity, used to get mechanical energy, equals GHC emissions.
October 6, 2021 at 11:28 am
In the US, at least, we’ve cut down the health-related pollution from power plants, so we get a great benefit from make the transition from tailpipe cars to EVs independent of GHG production. (It is a pity, though, that the dirty diesel trucks will be the last to make the transition.)
October 6, 2021 at 11:23 am
This is a charging infrastructure problem, and we don’t have to worry about the current RE/FF mix on the grid for this to be a good idea. The charging stations themselves will probably be underused at the begininning (cue the whining from the pro-ICE set), but should be visible to all the drivers contemplating switching to EVs.
The transition of the grid from FF→RE is happening at one rate, and the transition from ICE→EV at another. We should push the transition of either without worrying about the other.
In any case, the oil refineries use a lot of electricity themselves, so there’s some savings in converting ICE→EV even if the grid transition is slow.
October 7, 2021 at 1:45 am
The object of the exercise is to stop burning FF. Basically, electrifying everything is the aim. If the electricity comes from FF, buggar all is gained. EVs, positive in multiple ways, do not actually help stop CAGW. ( My physicist brain keeps screaming ‘perpetual motion’ on multiple energy saving claims. )