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Michigan to have nation's first electrified road to wirelessly charge EVs
- iab 5y agoSimultaneously inspirational and solar-roadways-ish
- rmason 5y agoA little background: When Governor Wittmer ran for office she promised to fix Michigan's roads. The state's roads are the ninth worst in the nation while having one of the highest gas taxes in the America. She failed in an attempt to raise our gas taxes to the highest in the nation. Now the Governor wants to raise taxes even higher to benefit EV's which currently make up 0.3% of all vehicles in the state. Presently 41% of the states roads are rated 'poor' and repairing them will now have to wait.
- t-3 5y agoShe tried quite a bit more than a gas tax, but was blocked at every turn by Shirkey and the rest of the legislature. The roads are a never-ending cash-flow for well-connected businessmen who consistently fail to deliver what is asked for, and instead skimp on materials and deliver roads designed to break down just fast enough to keep them constantly milking the public coffers. At this point, I think splitting the state and leaving the UP to fend for itself instead of parasitically controlling the cash that comes from the LP is the only solution.
- rmason 5y agoThe lower peninsula missed their chance when they fought the U.P. separatist movement. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_(proposed_U.S._state)#:~:text=In%201962%2C%20an%20Upper%20Peninsula,a%20ballot%20referendum%20on%20separation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_(proposed_U.S._state).... One of the state's biggest problems is that trucks don't pay anywhere near their fair share. Michigan also allows 164,000 pound gross rate while Ohio and Indiana top out at 80,000. But the truckers have a strong lobby and pass out money to both party's.