Not Much in State and Local Incentives
Not Much in State and Local Incentives
Outside of federal incentives, there's not much out there across the country that has been enacted by state legislatures or agencies, including municipal and regional authorities. State and local governments have been prone to implement mandates and regulations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and smog, but the buyer incentives remain thin.
State and local programs can take the form of tax credits, such as in Oregon, Louisiana, and Rhode Island, or grants, as in New York, Indiana, and North Carolina, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. Details are presented on government websites, and fleets are encouraged to submit RFPs to find out if they qualify. It's interesting to see that EDF focused its online directory on hybrid incentives, and not alternative fuel vehicles. Some of the programs do apply to AFVs, but the guide has been structured around hybrid vehicles, which are the basis for all the state and local incentive programs. There are only 13 states and three cities listed in the guide. Read more.
California and New York's Programs
In bellwether state California, the California Air Resources Board administers the program. To be eligible for incentives, CARB looks are a number of factors including cost effectiveness, nitrogen oxide and refrigerant emissions, and testing and reporting requirements. In the state of New York, New York State Energy Research and Development and New York City Clean Cities administer the program. It's open to fleets of 10 or more vehicles owned or operated by public and non-profit organizations. Up to 75% of the incremental cost of purchasing an alternative fuel vehicle can be covered under the state programs. Offsetting petroleum use and emissions reduction are part of the determining factors.