Will County Gazette

State Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort) is hoping to soon be able to call a greener Illinois home.   

The veteran lawmaker recently led the charge in getting the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act to the governor's desk, with the legislation now being heralded as a historic measure counted on to preserve and create jobs across the state. House Bill 1769, which provides a tax credit for manufacturers of electronic vehicles, parts, and power supplies, passed the Senate unanimously and by a vote of 110-2 in the House, according to the State-Journal Register. 

It now awaits Gov. J.B. Pritzker's signature to become law.

“This new measure sets up Illinois to tap into a new manufacturing industry,” Hastings said in a release. “We are providing incentives to electric vehicle companies to set up shop in Illinois. These new good paying jobs will help grow our state’s economy and help us reduce global carbon emissions.”

Even larger perks could be forthcoming for business in underserved areas — those with a population of less than 100,000, retired fossil fuel plants or closed mines. In addition, the amount of training cost tax credits can climb if new hires are recent college grads, certificate holders or credential recipients from a state college.

Earlier this year Canadian-based manufacturer of all-electric vehicles Lion Electric Company announced its expansion into Illinois with a facility in Joliet, according to Hastings' office.

“I am proud to see Illinois’ step up to be a competitor and work diligently to encourage electric vehicle manufacturers to join the ranks of great employers and businesses in our state,” Hastings added in the release. “Green transportation is the future. We have the opportunity to reshape the transportation sector in our state and nation. We all must work together to clear the way for climate progress and seize the opportunity to create good-paying jobs for Illinois residents.”

Overall, Illinois now ranks ninth in the country for auto production with more than 30,000 residents employed across the industry, according to the release. In addition, the Illinois Manufacturing Association reports another 36,000 individuals work at auto parts makers in the state. And the state is already home to more than 5,000 workers in the electronic transportation industry, a number that is expected to double in two years.

“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 to the State Journal-Register. “As a leader in clean energy and as a global transportation hub, Illinois is an ideal home for this important, climate-friendly industry."

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is among those supporting the change, with President Mark Denzler thanking the governor for and lawmakers “for partnering with us in a bipartisan manner to build on our state’s proud history of auto manufacturing,” according to the State Journal Register.

Denzler added, “This measure demonstrates what we can accomplish by working together, which is more important than ever before as we seek to rebuild our state’s economy following massive disruptions caused by the pandemic.”

The Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Program would be administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, according to the bill itself, which would go into effect immediately upon signing.