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ComEd, in partnership with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (Caucus), recognized nine communities that graduated from the 2026 EV Readiness Program during an award ceremony this week in Northbrook, Illinois. The program supports municipalities as they prepare for the continued growth of electric vehicles (EVs) through improved local policies, permitting, and first-responder readiness.
The ceremony was hosted at UL Solutions in Northbrook, a global safety science leader, offering testing, inspection and certification services, and brought together municipal leaders, sustainability staff and local officials from across the region to celebrate local progress and collaboration.
“The EV Readiness Program helps communities remove barriers to EV charging, improve safety and streamline local processes,” said ComEd President and CEO Gil Quiniones. “These graduating municipalities are leading the way in building the infrastructure needed to support a cleaner, more sustainable transportation future, that benefits local residents and supports progress towards the state of Illinois’ EV adoption goals.”
Launched in partnership with the Caucus in 2022, ComEd’s EV Readiness Program brings together municipalities across northern Illinois to learn and share best practices to prepare for increased electric vehicle adoption. Now on its fourth cohort of local governments, the program supports communities as they update zoning codes to remove barriers to EV charging, streamline permitting processes, strengthen community engagement, and train first responders. Communities also track key metrics, such as the number of EVs and local charging stations, to better plan for future demand — efforts that led several municipalities, including Northbrook, Downers Grove and Des Plaines, to earn Bronze EV Ready designation in 2026. Streamwood and Vernon Hills received a Silver EV Ready designation after earning bronze in 2025.
