By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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BELVIDERE — Local lawmakers are working on a tight timeline as they press to pass legislation to incentivize electric vehicle production in Illinois.
There are three days left in the General Assembly’s veto session – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – and both state Sen. Steve Stadelman and state Rep. Dave Vella say they’re optimistic the bill will pass.
The goal is to strengthen the future of the Belvidere Assembly Plant and other automakers in Illinois. On Sunday, the lawmakers gathered with workers outside the plant to stress the importance of passing the bill this week.
“I think everybody realizes this is an urgent situation,” Stadelman said. “You have automakers making decisions over the next couple months, maybe six months, as far as where to locate these production facilities or whether to retool a current facility like this one.”
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In July, Stellantis, the automaker that owns the local assembly plant, said it would invest approximately $35 billion in electric vehicle production and software through 2025. It has not signaled whether Belvidere is in the running for such work, but local workers say they’re prepared to make the transition.
“It’s something we’re moving to in the future. What better way to do it than at our plant and lead the way,” said Kevin Logan, president of United Auto Workers Local 1268.
The plant is shutdown through at least the end of the month as automakers continue to suffer from a global microchip shortage. That’s the latest setback in a difficult stretch for workers and the plant, which has reduced its number of shifts and endured several other shutdowns. Approximately 2,500 people work at the plant.
“Right now, it’s a very scary time for all our members,” Logan said. “We’ve got members that don’t get supplemental unemployment benefits. Many of our outside suppliers have exhausted all their unemployment benefits.”
The proposed legislation would include tax credits and job training funding for automakers and supply chain businesses that relocate or retool to make electric vehicles or components in Illinois.
Vella and Stadelman said they’ve been working with Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration on the package, and that the governor supports the legislation.
“They understand how important this is in this short frame of time to get it done,” Vella said.
He said this legislation is a natural next step after the massive clean energy bill was signed into law in September.
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“This is not a partisan issue. This is jobs. This is energy. This is good for everybody,” Vella said. “This is not just going to be great for Belvidere, which it is. It’s going to be great for Decatur. It’s going to be great for Bloomington and Metropolis, too. It’s going to be great for everybody.”
Stadelman said lawmakers have had numerous conversations with Stellantis and have worked with them on the package, “so that they can go to their boss and say, this is why we should maintain production here in Belvidere as we transition to electric vehicles.”
There’s urgency to pass legislation now so that the company sees the state’s support before it decides to locate electric vehicle work elsewhere.
“I think our future is looking bright as long as certain key things fall into place,” Logan said. “We’re looking forward to getting some good news here.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.