Month: September 2022

During an appearance at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Wednesday, President Biden announced that the White House is expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure, by announcing funding for 35 states to build their own charging stations. The White House said in a statement: “The future of transportation is electric. The president’s economic plan has generated an American electric vehicle boom that is creating new economic opportunity and tens of thousands of good-paying and union jobs across the country.”

Biden detailed his administration’s efforts to promote electric vehicle manufacturing and reduce the need for fossil fuels: “Y’all are going to be part of a network of 500,000 charging stations … throughout the country installed by the [International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers].” Biden detailed plans for approval of about $900 million in federal funding to build the first EV chargers across the 35 states. The money will come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that was passed last year. which provides $7.5 billion to build the national network of 500,000 EV charging stations and another $17 billion for EV battery production and clean transit and school buses.

Biden said his plan will make electric vehicles accessible for everyone, and pledged that charging stations would be available on major roadways such as I-10 and I-75.  Companies including Toyota, Honda, Ford, General Motors and Panasonic have announced tens of billions of dollars in investments in electric vehicles.

Biden’s speech at the Detroit Auto Show is part of the White House’s agenda to accelerate EV production and wean off fossil fuels, for the benefit of the environment and to become less reliant on oil imports.

Editorial credit: Darren Brode / Shutterstock.com

A somber procession through central London was held on Wednesday in which the coffin carrying Queen Elizabeth II was moved from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where the late monarch will lie in state for four days until her funeral is held on Monday. The coffin was topped with the Imperial State Crown — encrusted with almost 3,000 diamonds — and a bouquet of flowers and plants, including pine from the Balmoral Estate, where Elizabeth died on Sept. 8 at the age of 96.

Massive crowds gathered early Wednesday morning to view the procession, and a line had begun to form of people waiting to file past the queen’s coffin. The most senior members of the Royal Family taking part in the 40-minute walk from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, including the new monarch King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew. William, Prince of Wales and Harry, Duke of Sussex, also walked in a row behind the queen’s children.

The procession included the tolling of the bells of Big Ben, and a gun salute at Hyde Park nearby. After the coffin reached Westminster Hall, a short service began – conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury – in which the royal family, including the Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, were in attendance.

Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin rests on a raised platform that will be guarded around the clock for the full four-day lying in state period. Four officers from the Household Cavalry -– two from the Life Guards and two from the Blues Royals -– began the vigil, taking their places at each corner and bowing their heads.

Editorial credit: Hamara / Shutterstock.com