The transportation infrastructure plan will strengthen Gov. Bill Lee’s mission to make Tennessee the national leader in the electric vehicle supply chain.

Media Contact: Gerald Witt, [email protected]

KNOXVILLE, TN, March 31, 2021 — The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council supports electric vehicle development among the goals for advanced energy anticipated in the transportation infrastructure plan to be outlined by President Joe Biden on Wednesday.

“Tennessee is a leader in advanced energy, particularly in the electric vehicle supply chain, something that our governor and ECD commissioner have championed as a priority,” Cortney Piper, executive director of TAEBC, said. “We believe a national infrastructure plan will generate new economic opportunity for electric vehicle jobs and companies in Tennessee. Existing auto manufacturers such as Volkswagen, General Motors, Nissan and Toyota have significant operations in Tennessee that stand to benefit from the infrastructure plan. We also have outstanding advanced energy research and development resources with major institutions like the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 

“Spending on transportation infrastructure is crucial for lifting Tennesseans and the country out of an economic downturn caused by the pandemic. And in Tennessee’s case, we are also uniquely positioned to lead on transportation electrification and the economic activity that will follow. Major stakeholders such as the TVA and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation are also deploying EV infrastructure in the state. Our state’s EV opportunities are growing by leaps with the help of government, business and research partners.” 

TAEBC is also part of a growing national coalition of cleantech companies and organizations representing business, labor, and startup innovation calling for the Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP)’s $150 billion federal stimulus proposal that urges Congress to make investments in the nation’s transportation infrastructure, including $25 billion for electric and zero emissions vehicles and related supply chain development, $85 billion for EV charging and infrastructure, $25 billion for zero emissions public transit, active transit and safe streets, $12.5 billion for workforce development, safety and job training, and $2.5 billion in innovation ecosystems for cleantech startups and related small businesses.

About Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council

TAEBC champions advanced energy as an economic development and job creation strategy. Advanced energy is technology neutral and includes electricity and transportation. Anything that makes energy cleaner, safer, more secure or more efficient is in the tent. No other entity in the state concentrates specifically on this robust sector. We educate public officials and business leaders about Tennessee’s advanced energy economy, establish strategic partnerships to connect assets with opportunities, and inform policy that expands and strengthens the industry. For more information, visit: https://tnadvancedenergy.com/