Downriver Today

The first of what will be 15 electric vehicle charging sites at state parks was recently celebrated by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) and associated parties.

Officials from Adopt a Charger, along with electric car manufacturer Rivian, joined Whitmer in the celebration that will also include a state fish hatchery to be developed in the near future, a recent press release from the governor’s office said.

“This project will not only benefit Michigan in the near term but will also pay dividends far into the future as we move toward a sustainable energy future,” Dan Eichinger, director of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said in the release. “From these EV charging stations, to installations of solar arrays that power fish hatcheries and other facilities, to building with mass timber and our innovative carbon sequestration development, we are working to improve the environment as we update our own portfolio.”

The governor’s office reported that recently installed solar panels at Holland State Park by Utopian Power are a great example of how they can power park infrastructure and electric vehicles.

“This partnership to install charging stations in our state parks speaks to the collaborative approach we are taking to grow our economy and address climate change head-on through clean, reliable energy,” Whitmer said in the release. “These charging stations along the Lake Michigan EV Circuit build on our rich Pure Michigan tradition of exploration and bringing together communities and businesses to ensure that we honor our past as the place that put the world on wheels and continue to invest in our workforce as we lead the transition to electric vehicles.” 

Whitmer added that the projects will help boost the economy and lower costs for motorists in the long run.

“As the transition to an electrified mobility future continues to accelerate, innovative initiatives like these are vital to ensuring EVs can be more easily incorporated into our everyday lives, regardless of where you are in the state,” Trevor Pawl, chief mobility officer with the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, said in the release. “By identifying creative partnerships and opportunities, we are making significant progress in creating a safer, more equitable and environmentally conscious transportation future for all Michiganders.”