$900,000 to go to EV infrastructure on Lake Michigan

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy awarded a total of $905,567 to continue the development of the Lake Michigan Circuit—a project to install electric vehicle infrastructure around Lake Michigan.

The Lake Michigan Circuit is an initiative to support coastal tourism in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana by creating a scenic route around the 1,100-mile Lake Michigan shoreline with reliable electric vehicle charging ports.

The award will be used to install direct charge/fast charging stations and Level 2 chargers along the west coast of Michigan.

“Michiganders who have made the transition to electric vehicles need to know accessible, reliable charging stations are available to them as they enjoy everything our state has to offer,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos. “The Lake Michigan Circuit will allow travelers to experience Lake Michigan and visit our coastal communities and attractions along and around the route. This is not only a step in building out our charging infrastructure, it’s an opportunity to offer the best new road trip for electric vehicle owners across the country.”

This award comes after the state announced its 2025 budget, which includes over $30 million to build out the state’s electric vehicle charging network and support hydrogen fueling, inductive charging, and fleet transition efforts.

Here’s a breakdown of where the funding is going:

• Adelaide Point Qualified Opportunity Zone Business , Muskegon: $70,000 toward one 200 kilowatt (kW) DCFC ($113,245 match funding).
• Chateau Chantal Winery & Inn, Traverse City: $5,000 toward one 7.2 kW Level 2 charger ($18,317 match funding).
• Cloverland Electric Cooperative:
  • Manistique: $96,285 toward one 180 kW DCFC ($60,800 match funding).
  • St. Ignace: $96,285 toward one 180 kW DCFC ($58,733 match funding).
• City of Frankfort : $5,000 toward one 19.9 kW Level 2 charger ($22,000 match funding).
• City of Manistee: $10,000 toward two 12 kW Level 2 chargers ($32,736 match funding), $10,000 toward a second location with two 12 kW Level 2 chargers ($32,736 match funding), and $63,960 toward one 160 kW DCFC ($128,112 match funding).
• Red E Charging:
  • Bridgman: $135,831 toward two 320 kW DCFC ($272,069 match funding).
  • Grand Haven: $57,619 toward one 240 kW DCFC ($138,721 match funding).
  • New Buffalo: Two awards of $10,000 each toward two 19.2 kW Level 2 chargers ($23,630 match funding each).
  • South Haven: $255,344 toward four 320 kW DCFC ($511,456 match funding).
• City of South Haven: $10,000 toward one 19.2 kW Level 2 charger ($23,630 match funding).
• Universal EV:
  • Grand Haven: $60,278 toward one 90 kW DCFC $122,382 match funding).
  • Muskegon: $4,985 toward one 11.2 kW Level 2 charger ($10,125 match funding).
  • South Haven: $4,980 toward one 11.2 kW Level 2 charger ($10,110 match funding).

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.