North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum recently rejected plans for the state to lead a multi-state plan for developing electric vehicle infrastructure, reports Grand Forks Herald.
The Energy and Environmental Resource Center at the University of North Dakota submitted a request for $375,000 for the Regional Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Resiliency Plan, a project led by North Dakota that aims to research implementing EV infrastructure in the region. The initiative is joined by Minnesota, Montana, and South Dakota.
The state’s Industrial Commission–of which Burgum is one of three members–declined the request for funding, deferring it to next month’s meeting and requesting more information on the project, such as how much other states will be contributing.
“If this report is going to highlight all the problems associated with the current plan, then I’d be interested in funding it,” Burgum remarked.
Burgum claimed that federal agencies don’t have a realistic expectation of EV’s capabilities, specifically when it comes to performing in cold temps. He added that federal incentives are creating a forced demand for EVs, alongside policies he said prevent power providers from offering affordable energy.
“We know that electric vehicles and cold temperatures just don’t mix,” said Burgum.
