TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Governor Gretchen Whitmer wants to electrify Northwest Michigan’s waterways and has announced the Fresh Coast Maritime Challenge. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) sent out a press release that says the challenge is a first-of-its-kind program in the United States that puts Michigan at the forefront of future-proofing sustainable maritime transportation including recreational boating activities, marina innovation, as well as commercial activities on the Great Lakes.
The MEDC’s statement about the initiative says that the challenge establishes a dedicated grant program that offers companies the opportunity to apply for assistance that will support the decarbonization and electrification of both marinas and watercraft across the state.
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Governor Whitmer says about the program, “The Fresh Coast Maritime Challenge represents the intersection of mobility, outdoor recreation, and economic development and will create wide-reaching benefits across the entire state of Michigan. This Challenge will serve to modernize one of the most prevalent methods of mobility in Michigan while supporting sustainable marinas and commercial watercraft and protecting the beauty of our Great Lakes for generations to come.”
As part of the Fresh Coast Maritime Challenge, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) has partnered with Traverse Connect to identify grant recipients and facilitate the distribution of grant funds, which will provide support for resources that align with the overarching goals of the region. Additional partners for the initiative include the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE); the Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Warren Call, president and CEO of Traverse Connect says, “Our vision for the Grand Traverse region is to be the epicenter for the new electric boating industry – from hosting development and manufacturing of watercraft and charging stations to serving as the hub of a fully-functioning corridor for recreational and commercial boat traffic. Electrification of the marine industry is at the heart of our growing Blue Economy, which will further diversify and grow our larger economic ecosystem.”
The electrification of some of Michigan’s waterways is already underway in northern Michigan, with the support of local, state, and federal partners. This includes a rapid charger in Elk Raids as well as Northport; the conversion of a Mackinac Island passenger ferry to zero-emissions electric power; and state and federal funding that paid to upgrade the Beaver Island Ferry to be more efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly.
