Beshear underscores confidence in electric vehicles in Kentucky
VANDERHOFF. GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR IS NOW HALFWAY THROUGH THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS SECOND TERM, AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE SEES THESE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS AS A SPRINT TO GET AS MUCH DONE AS HE POSSIBLY CAN. IT’S EXCITING BECAUSE THE MOMENTUM FROM THESE LAST FOUR YEARS HASN’T SLOWED DOWN AT ALL. PERHAPS THE BIGGEST SYMBOL OF GROWTH DURING GOVERNOR BESHEAR’S TENURE IS THE FORD BATTERY PLANT, EXPECTED TO EMPLOY 5000 PEOPLE LAST MONTH. THE GOVERNOR CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF A NEW JOB TRAINING CENTER THERE. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REPORTS ABOUT SLOWDOWN DOWNS IN EV SALES. DOES THAT CAUSE YOU ANY CONCERN WITH THE FORD BATTERY PLANT THAT’S BEING BUILT IN HARDIN COUNTY? SO GM JUST HAD ITS BEST MONTH OF EV SALES IN MAY. FORD HAD A GREAT MAY. IN FACT, ITS LIGHTNING SALES ARE UP, UP 91%, AND THAT’S THE BATTERY THAT WE’RE GOING TO MAKE. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT EVS. THEY’RE THE FUTURE. AND FOLKS HAVE TRIED TO FIGHT THE FUTURE IN THE PAST AND NEVER WON. IN PARTS OF THE STATE HIT BY DEVASTATING FLOODS AND TORNADOES, BESHEAR HAS ALSO MADE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS. WHEN I GO BACK TO THESE COMMUNITIES, I HEAR MIXED REVIEWS FROM RESIDENTS. ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE PACE OF REBUILDING AND THE SPEED WITH WHICH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS COMING TO THESE COMMUNITIES? WELL, I’M NEVER SATISFIED WITH WITH THE PACE. I BELIEVE OUR PACE IS AS FAST AS AS ANY NATURAL DISASTER OF THIS SIZE AND SCOPE. AND THERE HAVEN’T BEEN MANY, UH, EVEN IN HISTORY. BUT I FULLY UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WANT TO BE BACK IN THEIR, IN THEIR HOMES. I MEAN, THEY HAD EITHER A TORNADO OR A FLOOD. TAKE EVERYTHING. I THINK IF I WAS IN THEIR SHOES, I’D BE IMPATIENT TOO. I ALSO ASKED BESHEAR HOW MUCH HE PLANS TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST THIS FALL’S SCHOOL CHOICE BALLOT INITIATIVE. VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHETHER THEY SUPPORT ALLOWING PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS TO BE SPENT ON PRIVATE SCHOOLS. OH, I THINK YOU’LL SEE ME TRAVELING. I THINK YOU WILL SEE US TAKE A VERY STRONG ROLE. WE HAVE TO DEFEAT THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU’RE A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT. IF YOU VALUE YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, YOU HAVE TO VOTE NO ON ON AMENDMENT TWO, FOR A GOVERNOR WHO HAS STAKED HIS CAREER ON EDUCATION ISSUES, IT COULD BE ONE OF HIS MOST IMPORTANT
Beshear underscores confidence in electric vehicles, Kentucky’s battery sector
Updated: 6:43 PM EDT Jun 7, 2024
Reports of slowing electric vehicle sales will not harm Kentucky’s burgeoning EV battery manufacturing sectors, Gov. Andy Beshear told WLKY News.”They’re the future, and folks have tried to fight the future in the past and never won,” Beshear said in a one-on-one interview on a variety of topics. Beshear is now halfway through the first year of his second term as governor. He has staked his legacy on growing the state’s economy and one symbol of that growth is the Ford battery plant being built in Hardin County. In fact, despite some bad news for EV makers such as Tesla, others have fared well recently. Ford Motor Co. reported a 65% increase in EV sales last month compared to last year, while General Motors’s CEO reported May its best month ever for EV sales. Beshear celebrated the opening of a job training center for the Ford batter plant last month.In an interview with WLKY News, he said he believes the sector will continue to grow, especially as the number of charging stations increases, alleviating a chief buyer concern.”All the programs to help push EVs really haven’t even matured. And so seeing what I believe are strong and strong enough sales is a positive,” he said.
Reports of slowing electric vehicle sales will not harm Kentucky’s burgeoning EV battery manufacturing sectors, Gov. Andy Beshear told WLKY News.
“They’re the future, and folks have tried to fight the future in the past and never won,” Beshear said in a one-on-one interview on a variety of topics.
Beshear is now halfway through the first year of his second term as governor. He has staked his legacy on growing the state’s economy and one symbol of that growth is the Ford battery plant being built in Hardin County.
In fact, despite some bad news for EV makers such as Tesla, others have fared well recently. Ford Motor Co. reported a 65% increase in EV sales last month compared to last year, while General Motors’s CEO reported May its best month ever for EV sales.
Beshear celebrated the opening of a job training center for the Ford batter plant last month.
In an interview with WLKY News, he said he believes the sector will continue to grow, especially as the number of charging stations increases, alleviating a chief buyer concern.
“All the programs to help push EVs really haven’t even matured. And so seeing what I believe are strong and strong enough sales is a positive,” he said.
