PORTLAND, OR -- The U.S. Energy Secretary was in Oregon Tuesday, touring renewable energy sites with several state dignitaries. Governor Kate Brown welcomed the Secretary to Daimler’s “Electric Island." It's a first of its kind public dual purpose charging station - for electric Daimler trucks and any EV. "The future of transportation in this country is electric," said Gov. Brown, "And Electric Island is a shining example of what is possible when we collaborate." Electric Island is a partnership between Daimler and PGE.
The Portland stop was one of several in Oregon for Secretary Jennifer Granholm to promote the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ahead of the House vote, "You will get a $7,500 tax credit at the dealer, off the top, so that that reduces the cost of that electric vehicle." She says there’s also a $4,000 tax rebate on used EVs.
She pointed to three recent bills she says are bringing down the cost of electric transportation, "In the space of less than a year, you have the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, you have have the bill that was signed this morning, called the CHIPS Act, which - for all the electronics that are going into these vehicles, as well as a whole bunch of other things - making sure that we’re making the full supply chain for these technologies in America. And then, of course, the bill that came out of the Senate - that Inflation Reduction Act.
Granholm said there has never been a more urgent time to act on Climate Change, "Last year, the United States spent $150 billion to clean up after these extreme weather events: the wildfires, here, the droughts, the incredible heat domes that have enveloped our country, the weird storms that have popped up in unusual places, because Mother Nature’s mad."
Gov. Kate Brown and Sec. Jennifer Granholm tour Daimler's Electric Island in Portland.
Sec. Granholm speaks to dignitaries and reporters in Portland on Tuesday.
(L-R) Daimler Trucks President/CEO John O'Leary, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sec. Jennifer Granholm, PGE CEO Maria Pope, Gov. Kate Brown, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
