New electric vehicle incentive program announced

PROVIDENCE – A new electric vehicle incentive program to spur electric vehicle use by Rhode Islanders was unveiled Friday by officials at the 2016 Northeast International Auto Show at the Rhode Island Convention Center.
The program, Driving Rhode Island to Vehicle Electrification, will be administered by the state Office of Energy Resources.
A total of $200,000 in funding will be available to qualified Rhode Island consumers through a partnership between OER and the Attorney General’s Office. Qualified applicants will be eligible for up to $2,500 in a direct consumer rebate tied to the purchase or lease of an eligible new electric vehicle and based on vehicle battery capacity, according to information from OER.

“The DRIVE program will increase the adoption and deployment of electric vehicles across Rhode Island roadways and help reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions from our transportation sector. These rebates make it more affordable for Rhode Islanders to purchase or lease a new electric vehicle, and further our mission to promote clean energy alternatives, shrink our carbon footprint and protect the environment,” Gov. Gina M. Raimondo said in a statement.

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said that encouraging the switch to electric vehicles is a “smart move for drivers, our environment and the Rhode Island economy.”
“It’ll also provide a boost to Rhode Island car dealers. That’s a win-win-win,” Whitehouse said.

Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin said the program is being supported with an AEP grant.

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The news release said that the grant is from a 2007 consent decree, which resolved a lawsuit brought by Rhode Island, other states and the federal government against American Electric Power Service Corporation (AEP). Under the court order, AEP paid a $15 million penalty and committed $60 million to perform or finance pro-environmental projects, of which $24 million was distributed to eight states to fund pollution reduction, renewable energy, green building and other environmental projects. In Rhode Island, the Attorney General’s Office is charged with selecting projects to fund.

Vehicles must be listed on OER’s DRIVE eligible vehicle list at the time of purchase or lease to be eligible for a rebate. The purchase or lease must be executed on or after the program start date of Jan. 29. Qualified electric vehicles must be new and registered with the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
For information on the DRIVE program, visit www.drive.ri.gov.

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