XPost: alt.politics.economics, alt.california, sac.politics   
   XPost: alt.politics.democrats   
   From: idiots@dnc.org   
      
   After handing out close to $300 million in rebates for   
   purchasers of low- and zero-emission vehicles, state regulators   
   spotted a nettlesome trend -- much of the money ended up in the   
   pockets of upper middle class and wealthy homeowners.   
      
   Did the state really need to subsidize owners of gleaming new   
   Volts and Teslas and BMW i3s?   
      
   "If somebody is going to buy a top-line Tesla," said Dave   
   Clegern, spokesman for the California Air Resources Board, "they   
   may not need the help."   
      
   Late last month, new rules capped income levels for the Clean   
   Vehicle Rebate Project, or CVRP. The program offers a range of   
   rebates, including $1,500 for hybrid vehicles, $2,500 for   
   electric cars and $5,000 for hydrogen cars. The program also   
   took steps to encourage more low and moderate income families to   
   join the clean vehicle fleet.   
      
   The rules took effect March 29 and eliminate rebates for   
   consumers with annual incomes above $250,000 for single   
   taxpayers and $500,000 for joint filing families. Low- and   
   moderate-income buyers, defined as making less than three times   
   the federal poverty level or $72,900 for a family of four, are   
   eligible for an additional $1,500 rebate toward the purchase of   
   a new low or zero emission vehicle.   
      
   Clean vehicle purchasers are also eligible for federal tax   
   credits, which can lower the cost of a new vehicle by as much as   
   $7,500.   
      
   The state established the rebate project in 2010 to encourage   
   clean vehicle ownership, with a goal of having 1.5 million zero-   
   emission vehicles on California roads by 2025. The program is   
   funded by bonds and proceeds from the cap-and-trade program,   
   Clegern said.   
      
   Last year, a study commissioned by the Air Resources Board found   
   that the typical rebate went to a college-educated, white male   
   who owned a home and had an annual income of between $50,000 and   
   $200,000.   
      
   Just 6 percent of the rebate dollars went to residents in poor   
   communities, according to the report. The state failed to reach   
   its modest, 10 percent goal to reach neighborhoods defined as   
   disadvantaged communities.   
      
   Clegern said the changes were designed to better distribute the   
   rebate money. "It's still reasonably generous," he said. "Our   
   goal is still to get these vehicles on the road."   
      
   The debate continues among clean vehicle advocates on how to   
   encourage growth in the industry.   
      
   Eileen Tutt, executive director of the California Electric   
   Transportation Coalition, said the rebate program has been   
   "incredibly effective." The nonprofit encourages growing the   
   fleet of electric vehicles.   
      
   The organization opposed the caps, believing it could discourage   
   prospective buyers who did not want to share personal income   
   information with the state, Tutt said. CalETC felt it was too   
   early for restrictions that made it harder to qualify for the   
   rebates, she said. But she hopes the additional rebate for lower-   
   income families will expand the market.   
      
   Tutt said two pilot programs -- in San Joaquin Valley and   
   Southern California -- encourage clean transportation by   
   allowing moderate-income residents to combine rebates to put   
   toward the purchase of a used, low-emission vehicle. "It's   
   important to try it," she said.   
      
   The fast-growing clean transportation sector, which includes   
   hybrid, electric and natural gas vehicles, added 7,000 new jobs   
   in California last year, a 65 percent increase over the previous   
   year, according to a study by industry group Advanced Energy   
   Economy.   
      
   More than half of the people employed in the sector work on   
   electric and hybrid vehicles. The industry got another boost   
   this month from Palo Alto-based Tesla Motors, which booked more   
   than 300,000 reservations for its lower-priced sedan in a week.   
      
   Steve Chadima, senior vice president for external affairs at   
   Advanced Energy Economy, said the rebate program has encouraged   
   clean vehicle purchases, much like the subsidies that helped   
   build the market for solar panels a decade ago.   
      
   The price of electric vehicles will decline as more are   
   produced, he said. "Is the program working?" Chadima asked. "The   
   answer is mostly, 'yes.' "   
      
   Contact Louis Hansen 408-920-5043. Follow him at   
   Twitter.com/HansenLouis.   
      
   CALIFORNIA CLEAN VEHICLE REBATE PROJECT   
      
   The top five brands and the percentage of rebates from 2010 -   
   2015:   
   Chevrolet: 21 percent   
   Nissan: 20 percent   
   Tesla: 15 percent   
   Toyota: 14 percent   
   Ford: 12 percent   
      
   Source: Center for Sustainable Energy   
      
   http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_29773932/new-state-rules-   
   low-emission-vehicle-rebates?source=most_viewed   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)