Plug In America and Drive Electric Minnesota presented a webinar series December 1–4, 2020, focused on accelerating electric transportation adoption in 2021, in partnership with Xcel Energy and the Sustainable Growth Coalition.

In the six-part webinar series, attendees learned about several electric vehicle policies and implementation topics:

  • basics and benefits of electric vehicles
  • how Minnesota can become a leader in transportation electrification
  • policies to implement at the state, city, fleet, and workplace levels
  • how the state can overcome the remaining barriers to greater electric vehicle adoption

This event has now concluded, but you can find the webinar recordings and presentations below. Thank you to all of our amazing partners!


The Role of Cities and Counties in Transportation Electrification

Who should watch? City and county officials and staff.

This webinar was recorded on December 1, 2020.

The PowerPoint presentation is available here.

As Minnesota’s transportation sector moves toward more electrification, cities and counties have a unique role to play. In addition to installing charging infrastructure, cities should adopt building codes, explore right-of-way charging policies, coordinate with the state on electric vehicle signage, and much more. This webinar will answer the following questions:

  • What policies should cities adopt?
  • What unique role do cities play?
  • Which Minnesota cities are leading the way on policy adoption?

Featured speakers:

  • Brian Ross, Great Plains Institute
  • Dean Taylor, Plug In America
  • Diana McKeown, Metro Clean Energy Resource Team
  • Hon. Charlie Zelle, Metropolitan Council
  • Katherine Stainken, Plug In America

The 101 on Electric Vehicles for Minnesota

Who should watch? Prospective electric vehicle drivers, new electric vehicle drivers, and anyone that wants to learn more about electric vehicles.

This webinar was recorded on December 1, 2020.

The PowerPoint presentation is available here.

This introduction to electrified transportation gives attendees the basics about electric vehicles, including information on where and how to charge them and the latest market developments. It also covers the economic and environmental benefits of electric transportation and how the state can overcome the remaining barriers to greater adoption of electric vehicles.

Featured speakers:

  • Brendan Jordan, Great Plains Institute
  • Jukka Kukkonen, Shift2Electric
  • Katherine Stainken, Plug In America
  • Kevin Schwain, Xcel Energy
  • Lisa Thurstin, Twin Cities Clean Cities Coalition and an EV driver

Experience Electric Vehicles in a Virtual Test Drive

Who should watch? Prospective electric vehicle drivers, new electric vehicle drivers, and anyone that wants to learn more about electric vehicles.

This webinar was recorded on December 1, 2020.
This virtual test drive experience will show off three different electric vehicles and their features. Attendees will have the opportunity to talk with electric vehicle drivers and understand the joy, power, and quiet of driving electric, right from their own home.

Featured speakers:

  • Katherine Stainken, Plug In America
  • Laura Andrews, Plug In America
  • Lisa Thurstin, Michael Bearfoot and Brian Anderson, EV Drivers

How Minnesota Can Lead on Transportation Electrification in 2021

Who should watch? Legislators and legislative staff, agency staff, regulators, and advocates of transportation electrification (e.g., businesses, utilities, transit agencies, NGOs, etc.)

This webinar was recorded on December 3, 2020.
The PowerPoint presentation is available here.

Minnesota has taken some steps in recent years to advance transportation electrification, but much more remains to be done in 2021. To lead and reach the state’s vision of 20 percent light-duty electric vehicles by 2030, Minnesota will need to adopt supportive policies at the executive, regulatory, and legislative levels.

Attendees will learn which policies Minnesota can adopt in 2021 and the benefits of an accelerated transition to transportation electrification in the state. This webinar is geared towards legislators, agency staff, regulators, and others in the transportation electrification advocacy community.

Featured speakers:

  • Brendan Jordan, Great Plains Institute
  • Commissioner Laura Bishop, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  • Dean Taylor, Plug In America
  • Katherine Stainken, Plug In America
  • Representative Jamie Long, Minnesota House of Representatives
  • Representative Zack Stephensen, Minnesota House of Representatives
  • Senator David Senjem, Minnesota Senate
  • Tim Sexton, Minnesota Department of Transportation

Economic Development Opportunities for Minnesota from the Transportation Electrification Sector

Who should watch? Legislators and legislative staff, agency staff, regulators, and advocates of transportation electrification (e.g., businesses, utilities, transit agencies, NGOs, etc.)

This webinar was recorded on December 3, 2020.

The PowerPoint presentation is available here.

As Minnesota recovers from the COVID pandemic, the electric transportation future can offer numerous economic benefits such as supporting existing electric vehicle jobs, attracting electric vehicle manufacturing jobs and additional indirect jobs associated with the sector, and small businesses investing in chargers to attract customers and tourists.

This panel discussion features experts who will speak to these benefits for Minnesota, and what supportive policies the state needs to establish itself as a leader in transportation electrification. There will also be a breakout session to further explore topics.

Featured speakers:

  • Amy Fredregill, Sustainable Growth Coalition
  • Aditya Ranade, Minnesota Department of Commerce
  • Bree Halverson, Blue Green Alliance
  • Former Commissioner, Dan Lipschultz, MN Public Utilities Commission
  • David Ranallo, Great River Energy
  • Dean Taylor, Plug In America
  • Jamez Staples, Renewable Energy Partners
  • Nikolas Soulopoulos, Bloomberg New Energy Finance
  • Steve Grove, Commissioner, MN Dept of Employment and Economic Development

Expanding Charging for Minnesota Fleets, Workplaces, Multi-Unit Dwellings, and Public Locations

Who should watch? Businesses and state agencies who have or are thinking about charging for fleets, employees, general public, and multi-family buildings; property owners / managers; the general public; transit agencies; and advocates of transportation electrification.

This webinar was recorded on December 4, 2020.

The PowerPoint presentation is available here.

As the transportation sector becomes more electric, businesses have a unique role to play. This webinar will cover the following:

  • incentives to help build charging infrastructure
  • main considerations for building charging infrastructure for fleets, workplaces, and public locations and large apartments and condos
  • how Minnesota compares to other states in developing charging infrastructure

Featured speakers:

  • Anders Thulin, Siemens
    Bill Black, Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association
    Carrie Desmond, Metro Transit
    Dean Taylor, Plug In America
    Jordan Baynard, Ecolab
    Jukka Kukkonen, Shift2Electric
    Kevin Schwain, Xcel Energy
    Marcus Grubbs, MN Dept of Administration
    Nadia El Mallakh, Xcel Energy
    Siri Simons, Minnesota Department of Transportation

Thank you to our sponsors with all sponsor logos featured in the image.

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