The Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) Program is designed to create an ecosystem that will bolster manufacturing of electric vehicles and components in the state. | Pixabay/AKrebs60
The Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) Program is designed to create an ecosystem that will bolster manufacturing of electric vehicles and components in the state. | Pixabay/AKrebs60
Illinois may soon be plugging in instead of gassing up in the wake of a new law, and state Sen. Brian Stewart is cheering it on.
Stewart recently highlighted the REV Illinois Program in his Week in Review.
"In other news, Illinois is on course to be a leader in the manufacture of electric vehicles and parts with the signing of a new law that received strong bipartisan support," Stewart wrote in a Facebook post late last month.
In November, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed HB 1769 which established the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act and the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) Program. It's designed to create an ecosystem that will bolster manufacturing of electric vehicles and components in the state.
According to the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, under the REV Illinois program, companies that invest in new or existing manufacturing facilities for electric vehicles, components or power supply equipment may qualify for exemptions on income tax withholding, utilities tax, training, and equipment/capital costs.
REV Illinois will seek to prepare Illinois communities to take advantage of the growth of the EV industry, which is predicted to create thousands of jobs in the years ahead.
The program will also advance the state's climate change goal of putting 1 million EVs on the road by 2030.
Stewart isn't the only senator who supports the REV Illinois program. According to DeKalb Times, Sen. Tom Demmer touted the program as one that could "give the state a fighting chance to bring new jobs and new investments.
“This bill, this measure comes before us tonight for one simple reason,” Demmer said, according to DeKalb Times. “Right now Illinois is being out-competed by other states across the United States and attracting major investments to add new jobs in a developing and dynamic industry. We need to make Illinois more competitive.”
HB 1769 was first introduced in February by Rep. Greg Harris and passed the House 110 to 2 and the Senate 55 to 0.
It went into effect Nov. 16.
Alerts Sign-up