MMT should fund Drive Oregon, a coalition of Oregon companies and interest groups engaged in the electric vehicle industry, and in issues surrounding transportation electrification – with an emphasis on job creation and economic gardening. Drive Oregon’s mission is to catalyze the growth of Oregon’s electric vehicle (EV) industry to ensure Oregon develops and maintains its competitive advantage and maximizes the economic development potential of this emerging industry.

Drive Oregon is a collaboration of Oregon companies, public entities, and other stakeholders in the process of forming a formal tax exempt organization with the following high-level goals:
• Attract existing federal resources and private financial support to enable local companies to overcome commercialization barriers for clean vehicles, EV and EV-related products and facilitate opportunities for external collaboration.
• Leverage and connect Oregon University System institutions, utilities, state and local government entities and Oregon electric vehicle (EV) industry stakeholders to efficiently develop and commercialize next-generation transportation technologies.
• Foster collaboration between Oregon's existing clean tech, advanced manufacturing, software and high technology sectors to participate in the EV supply chain, both locally and globally.
• Aid in the creation of skilled, family-wage jobs to build the next generation of transportation solutions.

Context:
Oregon is at the forefront of Electric Vehicle (EV) deployments, having garnered attention internationally as an early-adopter market as exemplified by our high hybrid electric vehicle concentration. Transportation Electrification represents the transformation from a fossil-fueled, combustion based transportation system to one that increasingly powers vehicles with electricity as the motive force. Electric vehicles have much higher energy efficiency than internal combustion powered vehicles and are significantly cleaner. Beyond the environmental benefits of EVs, there are significant benefits from energy security and retained wealth in the local economy not transferred to purchase petroleum. While there are undeniable regional benefits for being an early EV market, so called “green dividends,” as well as transitory job creation through EV charging installations, there are significant long-term benefits available to Oregon. Seed funding from Ideas 4 Oregon can enable focus Oregon’s efforts on transformative economic development.

Oregon’s vision is to be a leader in EVs. Governor Kulongoski recognizes EVs in his climate change and sustainable transportation agenda; having issued Executive Order 08-24 creating the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Infrastructure Working Group (hereafter AFVI). The group produced a report issued in February 2010 providing recommendations to the Governor.

Cited within the report of the AFVI Report is the recognition of an Oregon electric vehicle cluster and a call to action to support this cluster for long-term sustainable advantage. The AFVI Report contained well over 6 pages dedicated to job creation opportunities and recommendations. Highlights include opportunities in the component and subsystem level for existing local companies; software and embedded electronic systems for Oregon firms, recognition of Oregon's advantages in "niche" vehicle segments; development and manufacturing of EV charging infrastructure (actual charging stations and the associated grid connectivity, communications and control); as well as job creation including design, engineering, analysis of software, systems and process to integrate into hardware, networking and devices that support the evolution of smart grid and on-board services. Furthermore, the AFVI Report also advanced recommendations for creation of a “world-class, multi-disciplinary transportation electrification and “smart mobility” center of excellence” as well as a “center of excellence for Smart Grid integration of electric vehicles.” Funding from MMT would provide seed / development funding to leverage federal funds, state funds and other private sources to start up such a center.

Oregon has a strong manufacturing capability and expertise throughout the region to support a clean vehicle industry, with a correspondingly robust supply base in existence that serves commercial trucks (i.e., Freightliner/Daimler in Portland and PACCAR in Washington) as well as recreational vehicle makers. There are opportunities for existing Oregon companies -- or people-- to diversify, create new divisions, start new companies, or join emergent companies. Despite the economic downturn and scarcity of capital investment, Oregon’s pioneer spirit has launched in excess of 14 local companies over the last several years as evidenced by the cluster formation through start-up entrepreneurial activity. Oregon already has well over 40 companies actively working on transportation electrification and vehicle efficiency technologies, many are listed at http://DriveOregon.org/members.

By harnessing the resources of this broad array of companies, fostering collaboration and attracting additional complementary firms, Oregon is well positioned to capitalize on the growth in the electric vehicle sector. Meyer Memorial Trust’s support as an economic gardening approach will create local jobs and bolster an emerging local industry. Now is the time to Drive Oregon towards a prosperous electric vehicle future.

Meyer Memorial Trust should leverage its investment with a $1 million "challenge grant" that will serve as a catalyst to attract other dollars; especially one-time start up funds from other foundations, private industry sources, and key federal granting agencies. A MMT placement can position Oregon in a leading position to secure a portion of the $11 billion in federal funding through the Electric Vehicle Deployment Act of 2010 co-sponsored by Senator Merkley. A Meyer grant will also send a strong message to the Governor, Legislature and the Oregon Innovation Council that future jobs in Oregon will depend on public/private investments in clean vehicles, clean energy and technology.

Clean transportation, green jobs and livable communities. Drive Oregon.