Illinois EV Registrations Triple Under Pritzker’s Climate Law, But Rural Criticism and Political Challenges Persist.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has seen electric vehicle registrations in the state triple in three years since he signed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, a clean energy policy signed by him. The state’s goal is to put 1 million EVs on Illinois roadways by 2030, largely in rural, Republican-leaning rural counties south of Chicago. However, political outcomes in Springfield, Illinois, and Washington will determine the success of this strategy. While the state’s climate law, known as CEJA, authorized EV rebates and set aside millions of dollars for chargers, there is a growing push for the state to go faster. Pritzcher’s policies have been met with criticism from Republicans, particularly state Sen. Chapin Rose, who said they are out of reach of most people in his rural east-central Illinois district.