BILL NUMBER: S5655

SPONSOR: METZGER
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in
relation to increasing rebates to municipalities for the cost of any
eligible infrastructure projects which support the development of clean
vehicles

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To increase participation in the Department of Environmental Conserva-
tion's Zero Emission Vehicle rebate program and to incentivize munici-
palities to decrease their carbon footprint.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one of this bill amends Section 54-1521, subsection (3b), of the
Environmental Conservation Law to increase the rebate of an eligible
electric vehicle purchase from a minimum rebate of $1,500 and a maximum
rebate of $7,500.

              

Section two of this bill sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Zero Emis-
sion Vehicle (ZEV) rebate program is designed to assist and incentivize
municipalities with the purchase of electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles
with certain requirements.

Many counties throughout New York State are interested in saving taxpay-
ers money, reducing their carbon footprint and helping to reduce green-
house gas emissions.

Unfortunately, the current rebate structure does not allow enough flexi-
bility and financial incentive to convince counties to switch their
fleets from gas powered vehicles to eligible vehicles under the ZEV
program.

This legislation proposes to increase the eligible rebate from a minimum
of $750 to $1,500 and a maximum rebate of $5,000 to $7,500.  This mini-
mal rebate increase will be enough to make a financial argument that an
electric vehicle or other eligible vehicle is more affordable to a coun-
ty fleet than a gas-powered alternative.

Because municipalities are ineligible for the federal tax incentives,
this legislation will greatly help develop a more robust electric vehi-
cle charging infrastructure, assist municipal eligibility with the clean
energy program offered by NYSERDA, help grow the DEC climate smart
communities' program, and assist the state in meeting its green house
gas emission reduction goals.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately