16 Northern Illinois Communities Take Steps to Become EV Ready with ComEd
Communities make up fourth cohort of ComEd, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus EV Readiness Program
ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (Caucus) today announced the fourth cohort of communities participating in the award-winning EV Readiness Program, a unique initiative to help local governments in Illinois prepare for the growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging infrastructure. This newest cohort of 16 organizations will receive technical assistance through the program to streamline policies and implement best practices for safe and effective regional transportation electrification.
The fourth cohort includes Blackhawk Hills Regional Council, Brookfield, Burr Ridge, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, Grayslake, Highland Park, Northbrook, Pingree Grove, Riverwoods, Sandwich, Streamwood, Vernon Hills, Winnetka and Woodridge.
"The EV Readiness Program provides cities and counties across the region with critical resources needed to support EV growth within their communities," said Ajit Apte, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations at ComEd. "EVs are helping customers save money on fuel and maintenance while lowering emissions to help save the planet. By partnering with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and communities across northern Illinois, we are helping make the transition to EVs more achievable for everyone."
EV Readiness Program participants focus on policy development for EV infrastructure, permitting and safety, and educating members of their communities on the benefits of EVs. Cohort members follow a pathway toward EV Ready Bronze, Silver or Gold designation by taking actions in several categories related to EV adoption and infrastructure. Some communities that previously participated in earlier cohorts are seeking to "level up" to a higher designation.
ComEd and the Caucus first launched the EV Readiness Program in 2022 to prepare local governments for the transition to EVs, which bring cost savings as well as environmental and health benefits to communities. To date, thirty-eight local governments have completed the EV Readiness Program. With the fourth cohort of 16 organizations, the program will have helped over 50 communities in northern Illinois and plan for a clean energy future. EV adoption continues to grow in Illinois, with more than 152,000 EVs on the roads today, and the majority of them in northern Illinois. The state's Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), passed in 2021, supports this growth by setting a goal of putting 1 million EVs on the road by 2030.
"The EV Readiness Program is the first of its kind in the nation and shows that local governments can be powerful innovators," said Kevin Burns, Mayor, City of Geneva, Illinois, and Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Environment and Energy Committee Chair and Immediate Past Executive Board Chair. "By adopting forward-thinking policies, our communities are making clean transportation more accessible and affordable."
"By working together through the EV Readiness Program, our communities are expanding access to fast, reliable charging so EV drivers can travel all around the country with confidence," said Gary Grasso, Mayor, Village of Burr Ridge, Illinois. "This collaboration shows how local governments are leading the way to green and clean transportation for all residents."
The fourth cohort is underway and is expected to achieve EV readiness status in the summer of 2026. Training initiatives include first responder EV training to keep the public safe as EVs expand and permitting to ensure safety and compliance taught by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134.
"We joined the EV Readiness Program because of the practical benefits it brings to our community," said Amber Kubiak, Village President, Village of Pingree Grove, Illinois. "From training first responders to providing guidance on safe permitting and inspection practices, the program equips us with the tools we need to prepare for the growing demand for electric vehicles."
The City of Des Plaines recently hosted the fourth cohort kickoff meeting.
"The City of Des Plaines was pleased to welcome the fourth cohort of the EV Readiness Program to City Hall as we continue to expand EV adoption, infrastructure and sustainability," said Andrew Goczkowski, Mayor, City of Des Plaines, Illinois. "The EV Readiness Program helps us move closer to achieving our sustainability goals, which will create a brighter future for our residents."
The EV Readiness Program is one example of significant investments that ComEd is making to support customers and communities in the transition to EVs. The utility also launched a series of rebate programs to support residential, business and public sector customers with expanding EV use, by funding fleet EVs and EV charging infrastructure projects. Since launching these rebates in 2024, ComEd has awarded more than $100 million in rebates to ComEd customers. To ensure equitable access to EVs, ComEd's programs reserve over 50 percent of all funding for equity investment eligible communities (EIEC), as defined by the state of Illinois, or for low-income customers. Information on eligibility can be found at www.comed.com/EV.
The innovative EV Readiness Program has garnered significant recognition during the past year. In April, the Caucus won the Innovative Community Program/Special Project Award for the EV Readiness Program from the Illinois Association of Municipal Management Assistants (IAMMA). In September, the Caucus' program was named a Top 100 Finalist for the 24th annual Chicago Innovation Awards, with winners to be announced on Nov. 13.
To learn more on the benefits of EVs, and how ComEd can support your electrification project, please visit www.comed.com/EV. For more information on the EV Readiness Program, please visit the Caucus' program webpage. Communities interested in joining a future cohort can add their name to the waitlist.
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ:EXC), a Fortune 200 company and one of the nation's largest utility companies, serving more than 10.7 million electricity and natural gas customers. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.
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