10/9/20: Michigan EV Policy Bootcamp

Michigan Gets Charged Up About Electrifying the Auto State

On October 9, the Electrification Coalition (EC) brought together more than 150 electric vehicle (EV) policymakers, industry experts, and advocates for an informative and collaborative day-long session about how to accelerate EV adoption in Michigan. This session was the fourth in a series of state EV Policy Bootcamps the EC is producing.

The bootcamp included several highlevel keynote addresses from Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow, and Admiral Dennis Blair, Chair of SAFE and member of the Energy Security Leadership Council, former Director of National Intelligence and former Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command. The Michigan EV Bootcamp also included keynote addresses and presentations from the following speakers:

  • Kindra Weid, RN, Coalition Coordinator, MI Air MI Health 
  • Román Partida-López Legal Counsel, Environmental Equity, The Greenlining Institute 
  • Trevor Pawl, Chief Mobility Officer, Office of Future Mobility & Electrification 
  • Dr. Brandy Brown, Director, Office of Climate & Energy, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, & Energy 
  • Tremaine Phillips, Commissioner, Michigan Public Service Commission 
  • Jean Ruestman, Administrator, Michigan Department of Transportation, Office of Passenger Transportation 
  • Rick Spina, Vice President for Electric Vehicle Commercialization, General Motors
  • Chris Kerzich, Director of Government Relations & Corporate Affairs, Lordstown Motors Corp. 
  • Samantha Hoyt, EV Marketing Launch Manager, Ford Motor Company 
  • Kaitlin Monaghan, Manager of Public Policy & Senior Counsel, Rivian 
  • Chris Nelder, Manager, Mobility, Rocky Mountain Institute 
  • State Senator Mallory McMorrow 
  • Will Toor, Executive Director, Colorado Energy Office 
  • Plug In America 
  • Electrification Coalition 
  • Atlas Public Policy

We also got the state perspective on EVs from leaders at Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Office of Climate and Energy, the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Office of Passenger Transportation, as well as the Michigan Public Service Commission, from Commissioner Tremaine Phillips. There were also informative presentations on how to address equity concerns and considerations from Ramon-Partida-Lopez, Legal Counsel, Environmental Equity at The Greenlining Institute, and on how EVs can improve air quality and public health from Kindra Weid, RN, Coalition Coordinator, MI Air MI Health. 

Additional sessions included updates on the national EV market, manufacturers’ perspectives on vehicle technology and policy pathways, and policy gaps around charging infrastructure. Speakers included representatives from Ford, General Motors, Rivian, Lordstown Motors, and the Rocky Mountain Institute, as well as Will Toor, Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Office. 

In the afternoon, the EC led a deep-dive discussion about a wide range of policy options to accelerate EVs in Michigan. This conversation utilized the unique “fishbowl” format to gather comments and input from all participants in a lively and entertaining discussion format. 

It was great to have robust participation in our Michigan EV Policy Bootcamp. Thank you to everyone who spoke, participated, and attended. We’re excited to work to electrify the Auto State! 

Presentation Slides

Amy Malaki

Amy Malaki is the Director of Partnerships and Policy at SkyNRG and SkyNRG Americas, pioneering global leaders in sustainable aviation fuel production and supply. Prior to SkyNRG, Amy was the Associate Director for the transportation portfolio at the ClimateWorks Foundation where she developed philanthropic investment strategies to advance a sustainable, equitable and low-carbon mobility system. She also pioneered the organization’s international aviation decarbonization strategy. Prior to that she focused on Asia business development at Better Place, a Silicon Valley electric vehicle network startup. She has a B.A. in Chinese and China studies from the University of Washington and an M.A. in international policy studies (energy and environment) from Stanford University.