U.S. HOUSE APPROVES $500k FOR BOARD OF WATER & LIGHT PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLE PROJECT
Funding will build local charging stations for plug-in hybrids, create up to 40 new jobs
WASHINGTON—Today the U.S. House of Representatives approved $500,000 in federal funding for the Board of Water and Light to design, engineer and construct five plug-in hybrid electric car charging stations in Delta Township. The funding was requested by Congressman Mark Schauer (D-MI) as part of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (HR 3183), which the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve today. The bill now advances to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
“I want the next generation of clean energy vehicles to be built right here by Michigan workers,” said Schauer. “Making sure we have the infrastructure in place to charge plug-in hybrid vehicles is an important first step to promote this technology locally. More importantly, this project will create up to 40 new jobs in the Lansing area at a time when we need them most.”
The Board of Water and Light intends to use this project as a State and national demonstration model that showcases the innovation and ingenuity of the U.S. automotive worker and the commitment of Big 3 manufacturers to building cleaner and greener vehicles for the future.
“The Lansing Board of Water & Light is extremely gratified by the efforts of Congressman Schauer to secure funding for our electric vehicle plug-in program,” said J. Peter Lark, General Manager, Lansing Board of Water and Light. “The funding will jump-start plans to have electric vehicle plug-in ‘stations’ in Greater Lansing, which should in turn motivate more people to make the switch to cleaner, greener vehicles. Our program will help keep Lansing in the vanguard of the U.S. transportation industry, as well as assisting the goals of Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero’s ‘Go Green, Go Lansing’ initiative.”
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the deployment of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in America would reduce fuel consumption by 50%, and help shift electric demand to cleaner and cheaper off-peak usage.
