Green Rock Apartments in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, positions itself as a provider of environmentally aware city living. It offers a range of eco-friendly features and facilities, including solar panels, energy-efficient lighting, complimentary low-watt light bulbs for residents, secure bicycle parking, on-site composting and recycling services, and community gardens. Dale Howey, the owner, actively explores ways…
Minnesota’s legislative session adjourned on Monday, May 22. It was a busy few months at the Capitol—the state’s historic budget surplus, unified Democrat-Farmer-Labor (DFL) control of state government, and significant federal investments in vehicle electrification set the stage for ambitious electric vehicle (EV) policy in 2023. Throughout the legislative session, Drive Electric Minnesota, convened by…
Budget deals significantly elevate state’s effort to expand transportation electrification May 24, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has signed into law a sweeping set of first-time incentives and other funding approved by the state legislature that significantly elevates the state’s efforts to expand transportation electrification. This includes landmark state grants that will supplement federal investments…
With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, community members and local governments in Minnesota have increased interest and incentive to purchase electric vehicles (EVs) and install EV charging stations. However, when installing the charging infrastructure necessary to support EVs, including accessibility features for people with disabilities is…
Minimum electric vehicle-ready requirements in building codes and ordinances increase electric vehicle (EV) adoption and access by ensuring that buildings have EV charging infrastructure that meets community needs. EV-ready building codes and ordinances also reduce the need for costly retrofits, as they tend to focus on future-proofing buildings and preparing for expected trends in the…
Minnesota’s 2023 legislative session is in full swing, and the next few months are shaping up to be action packed. Legislators have already introduced thousands of bills, including multiple aimed at increasing transportation electrification in Minnesota. This session, Drive Electric Minnesota is advocating for policies to jump-start Minnesota’s electric vehicle (EV) market and increase access…
On Tuesday, August 16, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 into law. The act—which provides almost $370 billion in federal funding for climate and energy investments—includes the most significant investments in vehicle electrification in US history. These investments will create jobs, reduce household transportation costs, improve air quality, and significantly reduce greenhouse…
This post originally appeared on the Great Plains Institute’s website, the facilitator of Drive Electric Minnesota. GPI Electric Vehicle Policy Specialist Moaz Uddin recently answered WCCO 4 News’s question, “Does getting an electric vehicle make financial sense?” Part of the CBS station’s “Good Question” series, the show helped answer this common question for people looking…
Improving access to public electric vehicle (EV) charging is essential to increasing EV adoption for those who cannot rely on home charging, such as renters. Adding more EV chargers in the public right-of-way (ROW) is one way that local governments can increase access for drivers that cannot charge their vehicles at home. EV chargers in…
Electric vehicles (EVs) offer a lot of great benefits like zero tailpipe emissions, less maintenance and service, lower lifetime cost, and fast acceleration. Yet many consumers are unable to adopt EVs because of their high initial cost. Fortunately, as the EV market matures, purchasing a new EV isn’t the only option available to consumers will…