LANSING, Mich. - The State of Michigan is expected to receive $110 million over 5 years in formula funding to support the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
The funding, announced Friday by Gov Gretchen Whitmer. comes from passage of the federal bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration will invest $5 billion in formula funding across the country to build the first-ever national network of EV chargers.
“Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Michigan is expected to receive $110 million over 5 years in formula funding to build up electric vehicle charging infrastructure and help the state continue leading the future of mobility and electrification,” Whitmer said. “We have an historic opportunity to put Michigan first and use the billions in funding we are expected to receive to support thousands of good-paying clean energy jobs, make electric vehicles more accessible and affordable, and usher in a new era of prosperity for our state. And make no mistake, we plan to go after every competitive grant we can to ensure Michigan remains at the forefront of EV infrastructure and manufacturing.”
Whitmer previously issued an Executive Directive to state departments and agencies to collaborate with the legislature and ready the state to build up electric vehicle charging infrastructure and create good-paying clean energy jobs. The state will work to save drivers time and money, continue leading the future of mobility and electrification, and bolster the economy by investing in jobs and products to support the state’s automotive industry.
Michigan will receive $16,290,764 in its first tranche of funding for Fiscal Year 2022. The National Electric Vehicle Charging Formula Program ($5 billion) and Grant Program ($2.5 billion) provides a total of $7.5 billion to states to procure and install electric vehicle chargers, with the goal of building a national network of electric vehicle chargers and to support charging in communities where people live, work, and shop. The Formula Program targets charging along corridors and Interstates whereas the Grant Program will invest in communities to support innovative approaches that ensure charger deployment reaches rural, disadvantaged, and other hard-to-reach communities.
“The federal support for electric vehicles comes at a very good time for Michigan as our department works with other state agencies and private-sector interests to develop a charging network with neighboring states through the Lake Michigan EV Circuit,” said Michigan Department of Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba. “Even more exciting, this comes on the heels of the governor’s announcement of an MDOT partnership with Electreon to deploy wireless charging on a state route.”
Trevor Pawl, the state’s chief mobility officer, said the state has an “opportunity and a responsibility” to advance the state’s automotive and technology landscape in a way that “improves the quality of life for all Michiganders.”
“These federal dollars will be critical in allowing us to continuing building out our charging infrastructure, attracting new businesses building that infrastructure, and preparing our workforce for an increasingly electrified mobility future,” Pawl said. “By working together with our public and private partners, Michigan will continue setting course for manufacturing the vehicles of the future while deploying solutions like these that make EV adoption more widely available for all.”
Jane McCurry, executive director at Clean Fuels Michigan, called the funding an “historic investment in the future of mobility in Michigan.”
“Clean Fuels Michigan has been working hard to ensure that Michigan meets this unique moment by taking full advantage of federal investments in an electric vehicle charging network that not only provides cleaner air and water but creates jobs and continues our legacy as the home of automotive innovation.” McCurry said. “Our member companies from across the EV industry stand ready to support Michigan’s network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.”
Funding amounts by state for the $5 billion Formula Program investment can be found in the Department of Transportation’s state-by-state fact sheets here.
