UPPER MICHIGAN, Mich. (WLUC) – More electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are coming to the U.P.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) awarded 17 grants totaling more than $900,000 dollars for electric vehicle stations. EGLE awarded grants to continue the development of the Lake Michigan Circuit program. The multi-state initiative allows EV drivers to travel all around Lake Michigan without wondering where they’re going to charge their car next.
The U.P. based Cloverland Electric Cooperative got two grants of $96,285 each to install new EV charging stations in Manistique and St. Ignace.
“We’ve seen that there hasn’t been the investment in the U.P. like we’re seeing downstate,” Business Development Director Jake Brown said. “Large suppliers and large companies haven’t quite moved up across the bridge just yet. And we kind of took it upon ourselves to say, this is a need, this is something our communities are asking for.”
Most of the pre-existing EV charging stations in the U.P. are near cities. EGLE Energy Unit Manager Jake Wilkinson said the rural areas don’t have as much demand.
“We do have quite a few stations that we’ve done, but there’s plenty of areas that could be addressed,” Wilkinson said. “But we’re continuing to use the Charge Up Michigan program and the Lake Michigan Circuit programs to try and fill some of those gaps and prioritize those areas.”
Brown added the grants will make it easier for tourists with electric vehicles to explore the U.P.
“They can have highspeed charging right in downtown, right for their tourism. It’s perfect to bring in those electric vehicle owners from downstate or Wisconsin, so that they can come up and enjoy the area without having to worry about where they’re going to charge,” Brown said. “And that really is some of the first electric vehicle chargers that we’re going to have in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.”
Brown said Cloverland Electric Cooperative hopes to start construction on the Manistique and St. Ignace sites later this year.
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