By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Illinois lawmakers passed legislation to incentivize electric vehicle production in the state, a measure local lawmakers hope with strengthen the future of the Belvidere Assembly Plant.
The measure, called the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act, passed with bipartisan support after midnight Friday, one of the last bills called during the fall veto session. State Sen. Steve Stadelman and state Rep. Dave Vella, both Democrats from Loves Park, where the chief sponsors of the bill.
Stadelman said the measure is the first step to helping ensure operations at the Belvidere Assembly Plant continue in the years ahead.
“Workers at the plant are concerned about its future,” Stadelman said. “We as the state need to make sure we put as many incentives as possible for Stellantis to make the decision to retool the Belvidere plant.”
Vella said he’s reached out to Stellantis, the automaker that owns the Belvidere plant where Jeep Cherokees are made, to offer any assistance and encourage them to take advantage of the incentives. It could create thousands of new jobs both at the plant and at small parts manufacturers in the region and across the state, he said.
“The horizon looks very bright,” Vella said. “This could very well be the next boom in manufacturing.”
Gov. JB Pritzker said he will sign the bill into law.
“With the passage of the REV Act, Illinois is making clear that it intends to be a leading state in the burgeoning electric vehicle manufacturing industry,” Pritzker said in a statement. “As a leader in clean energy and as a global transportation hub, Illinois is an ideal home for this important climate-friendly industry.”
Pritzker thanked Stadelman and Vella for ushering the bill through “with broad support from our lawmakers.”
“With our climate action plan in one hand and the electric vehicle REV Act in the other, I will aggressively work to recruit and support businesses that will create thousands of good jobs in communities across our state,” Pritzker said.
The act provides financial incentives and tax credits to manufacturers who relocate or retool their facilities to make electric vehicles, including motorcycles, or electric vehicle parts and other components. It also provides funding for job training for automakers preparing their workforce for electric vehicle production. Pritzker has indicated support for the measure.
Stellantis has committed to investing billions in electric vehicle production. The company wants more than 40% of its sales in the United States to be be low-emission vehicles by 2030, and it has committed to offering electric for all 14 of its brands.
The company, contacted Friday for comment on the bill’s passage, said it would not comment on future plans for the Belvidere Assembly Plant. The plant was shut down through the end of the month in part because of the global microchip shortage. Production is slated to resume at the plant on Monday, said Jodi Tinson, spokeswoman for Stellantis.
The plant is critically important to the region’s economy, Stadelman said.
“As automakers make the transition to electric vehicles, this will allow Stellantis to remain in the mix as far as retooling its Belvidere plant,” Stadelman said.
The plant is still one of the area’s largest employers, despite recent reductions, with roughly 2,500 workers. The bill could open the door to help the region, and Illinois, become a leader in the automotive industry, said Karl Johnson, chairman of the Boone County Board.
“This really opens up northern Illinois into being a hub for electric vehicle production, electric vehicle maintenance, battery production, battery maintenance, everything to do with producing, servicing electric vehicles,” Johnson said. “Now the hard work begins … There’s a still a lot of work to be done to help this plant become what we hope will be the focal point of Stellantis’ North American production.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.