On Thursday, governors from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin announced the establishment of a partnership to collaborate on electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the Midwest. The governors also signed the Regional Electric Vehicle for the Midwest Memorandum of Understanding.
This comes as demand for new electric vehicle-related jobs requires cooperative approaches within the Midwest, the governors said. The multi-state effort will support electric vehicle manufacturing, futureproof regional commerce and will aim at reducing pollution from the five states.
The goal of the REV Midwest MOU is to collectively accelerate vehicle electrification in the Midwest Region. REV Midwest will provide the foundation for cooperation on fleet electrification along key commercial corridors to safeguard economic security, grow jobs, futureproof interstate commerce, reduce harmful emissions, improve public health, and advance innovation. The MOU also ensures the entire Midwest region is able to effectively compete for new private investment and federal funding for vehicle electrification.
“Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act puts us on track to be the best state in the nation to manufacture and drive an electric vehicle – but we’re just getting started, and the work doesn’t stop at our state borders,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement. “By working together with our Midwestern neighbors, we can accelerate the region’s growth in the transportation sector, create jobs across our communities, and prioritize the environment that makes the Great Lakes region so great along the way.”
Building on the advanced manufacturing, engineering, research and development, and technological expertise of the Great Lakes Region, REV Midwest will coordinate to promote clean energy and mobility manufacturing, leverage the states’ automotive industry electrification leadership, grow the region’s share of electric vehicle production, and elevate access to tools required to equip the workforce of tomorrow, the governors said.
Improving access to charging infrastructure and reducing range anxiety will support EV adoption and the next generation of American-made electric automobiles. Through REV Midwest, the states will work together to remove barriers to electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles and enable EV charging across states by coordinating with the intention to optimize charging infrastructure, cooperate on best practices, and support standardization.
“Today’s REV Midwest partnership is a bipartisan effort to build the future of mobility and electrification and connect our communities,” said Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Our partnership will enable the Midwest to lead on electric vehicle adoption, reduce carbon emissions, spur innovation, and create good-paying jobs.”
An estimated 105,000 new jobs in the utility sector are anticipated 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.
The REV Midwest is a multi-state compact to develop, operate, and market the region and strategically develop an EV charging infrastructure network which aims at working for industry and people. The network will initially focus on interstate and regionally significant commercial corridors and creating publicly accessible charging opportunities capable of serving MHDV where the Midwest can leverage its existing role as a shipping and logistics hub.
The MOU is meant to competitively position the Midwest for upcoming federal funding opportunities and create a welcoming environment for economic development and innovation around EVs, EV charging infrastructure, battery performance, and other technologies on the cutting edge of the transportation energy sector convergence. These innovations and opportunities will be crucial to safeguard the region’s manufacturing economy in the long-term, the governors said.
The transportation sector is the leading source of air, climate, and water pollution. REV Midwest will support goals to promote a transition to EVs for all communities. One benefit of the initial focus on MHDVs will be to reduce pollution in communities located near freight and shipping facilities and along transportation corridors, where nearby historically disadvantaged communities are harmed by emissions and negative environmental impacts, the governors said.
Reducing harmful emissions through EV deployment makes all communities more sustainable, healthy and equitable places to live, work and play. REV Midwest will work with energy providers to address the full emissions reductions potential and encourage community sustainability through grid advancement.
“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.”