Last week, the Michigan legislature and Governor Whitmer agreed upon a bipartisan budget for the
fiscal year 2023. Under this budget, there are provisions for school aid, public health, and protecting
Michigan’s economy. Additionally, the spending plan includes $130 million in funding for the Michigan
Electric Vehicle Center, which will be located on the University of Michigan’s campus. This appropriation
will allow the university to provide training and teaching to develop the electric vehicle workforce. U-M
spokesman Rick Fitzgerald commented, “The creation of the Michigan Electric Vehicle Center will allow
the state to leverage the existing resources at U-M and the state’s other educational institutions to
focus on the future of electric vehicle technology and workforce development. This state investment is
critical to solidifying the leadership position of our state — and our nation — in the electric vehicle
industry.”
Earlier this year, a spending plan was approved that included $25 million for the Mobility Future
Initiative. The Initiative, run by the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, will focus on making
clean mobility services more accessible, growing the state’s clean mobility workforce, and developing
and commercializing mobility technologies through a new network of mobility innovation hubs.
Clean Fuels Michigan celebrates these significant investments in Michigan’s clean transportation
industry as they will provide cleaner air and water, create jobs, and continue our legacy as the home of
automotive innovation.
Last fall, the MI Clean Future Coalition put together a series of recommendations for state investment,
including the workforce and economic development initiatives already mentioned. The state still has
billions of dollars left un-allocated, so Clean Fuels Michigan will continue to advocate for additional
investments in clean mobility, such as funding for clean school bus grants and creating an electric
vehicle rebate program. Clean Fuels Michigan remains committed to ensuring that Michigan does not
miss this opportunity to invest in clean mobility solutions that signal industry leadership, prioritize
equity, and ensure maximum efficiency of federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding.
Image Credit: Ford Authority
