In a real-life version of the “distracted boyfriend
meme,” Gov. Kevin Stitt has spent much of his tenure turning his head away from
his petroleum overlords to check out the electric vehicle craze. After failing
to get Tesla and Volkswagen to open EV plants in the state, Stitt finally
landed Canoo. The startup company agreed to set up shop in Oklahoma City, and
Stitt was ready to buy a fleet of its futuristic vans after promising taxpayers
he wouldn’t let his wife behind the wheel.
But Canoo
recently announced it would cut a quarter of its staff, raising questions about
its future. With the large number of MAGA Tesla Trucks driving around town,
it’s hard to understand how an EV company could come up short. But it’s a sad
time when any of our neighbors lose a job, and this is no different.
In the
meantime, Stitt might soon be seeking his next EV play.
This article appears in Queen of Oklahoma.