BILL NUMBER: S4092

SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
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 taxpayers money, reducing their carbon footprint
and helping to reduce greenhouse 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 vehicle 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:

2019-2020: 55655 EN CON / 07561-A en con

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately