Bipartisan Support for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Passes Minnesota Legislature

Electric vehicles (EVs) just had a win at the Minnesota legislature. The state’s bonding bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, included $2 million for EV charging infrastructure on state-owned property.  Drive Electric Minnesota’s policy committee actively supported this investment with education and outreach to state legislators.

“I want to thank Drive Electric Minnesota’s policy committee and partners for their work to keep EVs on the docket at the Minnesota legislature,” said Brendan Jordan, vice president of Transportation and Fuels at the Great Plains Institute (which facilitates Drive Electric Minnesota). “Given the many challenges facing the state during the pandemic, I applaud the Minnesota legislature for working together on both short- and long-term visions that best position the state for a financially and environmentally sustainable future.”

Ensuring continued investment in EV charging infrastructure is a major priority for Drive Electric Minnesota. The $2 million investment represents about a 40 percent increase in total cumulative committed public funding for EV charging in Minnesota when taking into account the first two installments from the Volkswagen settlement fund  ($1.4 million for Phase 1, $3.5 million for Phase 2). These investments will make a difference, but much more needs to be done to decarbonize the transportation sector, which continues to be the highest contributor to climate-warming emissions in the state.

“We’re so pleased that this funding was included in the bonding bill. It will go directly towards installation of fast charging and level 2 charging at state-owned facilities, such as government buildings, state parks, rest stops and more,” said Minnesota Department of Administration Commissioner Alice Roberts-Davis. “This will enable more rapid adoption of EVs for state fleets, and many of the new charging stations will also be available to the public”

Drive Electric Minnesota is dedicated to the continued deployment of EVs and establishing charging infrastructure through public-private partnerships, financial incentives, education, technical support, and public policy.

Special thanks to our partners who helped in the bonding bill effort: Greenlots, Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association, Fresh Energy, Xcel Energy, Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association, Great River Energy, Otter Tail Power Company, American Lung Association in Minnesota, ZEF Energy, Connexus Energy, Shift2Electric, Tesla, ChargePoint, Dakota Electric Association, Elk River Municipal Utilities, Plug In America, Center for Energy and Environment, and Minnesota Power.

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