Today, alongside 26 members and partners, Clean Fuels Michigan sent a letter to Michigan’s Governor and Budget Office expressing support for state investments in clean transportation solutions. The signatories of this letter represent alternative fuel and electric vehicle drivetrain manufacturing, electric vehicle charging stations, environmental advocates, health advocates, electricity transmission and distribution utilities, clean energy trade organizations, and more.
This comprehensive set of investments will build on and fill critical federal infrastructure funding gaps. We are hopeful that Michigan’s policymakers will support these investments and make a down payment to support domestic energy production, demonstrate Michigan’s leadership in mobility, leverage public-private partnerships, and support cleaner air for Michiganders. View the letter below:
Dear Governor Whitmer, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, and Budget Director Harkins,
Thank you for your leadership and dedication to the people of Michigan. The signatories to this letter include 26 organizations and businesses representing alternative fuel and electric vehicle drivetrain manufacturing, electric vehicle charging stations, environmental advocates, health advocates, electricity transmission, clean mobility trade organizations, and more. We continue to express our support for state investments in clean transportation solutions that will benefit all Michiganders.
Thank you for your leadership on clean mobility thus far. We are extremely excited to see thatthe University of Michigan’s Michigan Electric Vehicle Center was appropriated $130 million to train and develop the electric vehicle workforce. Also approved earlier this year, the Mobility
Future Initiative is a $25 million project led by the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification to make clean mobility services more accessible, grow the future mobility workforce, and commercial innovative mobility technologies. These efforts will catalyze growth in the industry and support job creation. Still, we know there is more to be done to keep Michigan at the forefront of this rapidly changing industry. As the state that put the world on wheels, we need bold, equitable, and cohesive state investments to bring sustained tailwinds to clean mobility in Michigan and across the nation.
Cleaner transportation will benefit all Michiganders by reducing harmful emissions while also reducing fuel and maintenance costs. At the same time, more than 20% of Michigan jobs are tied to the transportation industry. The transition to clean, more innovative mobility technologies will require a shift not only in the way Michiganders and our visitors get around the state but in the way we are employed. There are several investment mechanisms that can help Michigan meet this unique moment in the EV and clean mobility industry.
Collectively, we support the following proposals and we urge you to work with your colleagues to take action and fund these programs. These recommendations will support public fleets, communities that suffer from poor air quality, and everyday Michiganders. This is a comprehensive package to enable faster adoption and fill in gaps where federal funding may not be available or may not be sufficient to meet market demand. The following package of investments will support domestic energy production, demonstrate Michigan’s leadership in mobility, leverage public-private partnerships, and support cleaner air for Michiganders.
$200 Million to Maintain Michigan’s Leadership in Mobility
$70M Bus and Class 6-8 Vehicle Incentives
Transitioning to clean transit, school buses, and other class 6-8 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles offers an opportunity to create win-wins in communities across the state. Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles make up only 5 percent of all vehicles on the road but are the second largest contributor to transportation emissions. Forty-eight percent of K-12 students ride a bus to school and the average fuel economy for school buses is only 6.5 miles per gallon. Electric buses are a proven technology in Michigan; however, the upfront costs associated with these cleaner technologies pose a barrier for interested school districts and transit agencies. The EPA Clean School Bus Program received more applications than they have funding available, demonstrating both the demand and the need for additional grant funds. Buses, trucks and other large vehicles offers an opportunity to reduce air pollution, save money, and use the latest technology. Budget investments will be influential in spurring adoption that will promote cleaner air for Michigan’s communities. These funds should be focused in historically disadvantaged communities with higher levels of air pollution.
$50M Rebate Program for EVs and At-Home Chargers
To maximize the potential air quality and clean air benefits while reducing reliance on foreign fuels, rebates should be designed to account for new, used, and leased battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and be presented to consumers and dealers in a simple and understandable way. An impactful and efficient EV rebate program should center equity by offering additional incentives for low- and moderate-income Michiganders as well as include micro-mobility solutions and accept proof of enrollment in eligible public assistance programs to meet income reporting requirements. Twenty-three states have some form of an EV incentive in place. States with purchase incentives rank the highest in state leadership, for example in the ACEEE Scorecard. Also, strong policies show that Michigan is serious about supporting the rapidly changing automobile landscape. Rebates accelerate EV adoption, particularly with low and moderate-income households that find the upfront cost of an EV to be a barrier. With the significant revisions in the new federal tax credits for domestically produced EVs in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), state incentives could make EVs even more attractive to Michigan
households.
$55M Grant Program for Public Commercial and Community Charging
Commercial vehicle and community charging are both areas that are seeing fewer investments and yet have a high impact on the economy and Michiganders’ quality of living. Freight is a crucial economic engine in Michigan, in addition to being a major contributor to harmful air
pollution. Our infrastructure must be sufficient to allow safe and easy travel across and through the state in clean vehicles, both for individuals and fleets. Likewise, we need to ensure that Michiganders who rent or rely on public infrastructure for charging for other reasons have access to charging stations. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) created a $1.25 billion competitive fund for community charging grants. While all the details are not yet available, we expect that the most competitive projects will have a significant funding match. Setting aside excess general funds to support Michigan-based community charging projects will make Michigan more competitive for these limited federal funds. The state should also contribute additional funds to ensure that all Michigan communities are prepared with charging infrastructure.
$25M State and Municipal Fleet Electrification
This budget appropriation will help convert state and municipal fleet vehicles to cleaner fuels, including building upgrades, vehicles, and necessary charging or refueling infrastructure. Public fleets cannot take advantage of federal tax incentives for electric and alternative fuel vehicles except through 3rd party financing arrangements. Investments in public fleets will save taxpayers money over time by reducing fuel and maintenance costs. It is imperative that the state “walks the talk” and assists municipalities in following suit. Michigan’s existing expertise can be leveraged to create high-impact programs like those listed above. We urge you to prioritize these investments during supplemental budget negotiations and for the Fiscal Year 2024 budget. We are eager to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you again for your continued leadership.
Sincerely,
Jane McCurry
Clean Fuels Michigan
Dr. Laura Sherman
Michigan EIBC
Charles Griffith
Ecology Center
Rebecca Gutierrez
Blink Charging
Frank Houston
BlueGreen Alliance
Alissa Burger
CALSTART
Emily Kelly
ChargePoint
David Palsrok
DTE Energy
Eric Douglas
Eco Misfits
Aaron Viles
Electrification Coalition
Susan Mudd
Environmental Law & Policy Center
Cory Bullis
Flo EV Charging
David Brosky
Fontaine Modification Company
Amaad Hardy
Greater Grand Rapids NAACP
Joshua Williams
Highland Electric Fleets
Kwafo Adarkwa
ITC Holdings Corp.
Kindra Weid
MI Air MI Health
Katrina Morris
Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation
Amy Rogghe
Michigan Electric Vehicle Alliance
Ross Gavin
Michigan Environmental Council
Nicholas Occhipinti
Michigan League of Conservation Voters
Derrell Slaughter
National Resources Defense Council
Jacqueline Gelb
Navistar
Tim Minotas
Sierra Club Michigan Chapter
Raquel Garcia
Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision
Chelsea Uphaus
Roush CleanTech
