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Getting To Zero with our Cars

10/7/2021

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Scientific American ran an interesting piece today. The article discusses the fact that the world is not moving fast enough to electrify our vehicle fleet. 

The transportation sector creates more greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector in the world. We are now on track to have 30% of cars on the road to be electric by 2050. We need to have that number at 60%. HERE. 

The Town of Fairfax has approved a Climate Action Plan that commits us to being 100% carbon free in our Town Transportation by 2030; we will walk the talk. 

I have written before about this topic, and many folks point out, rightly, that the cost of a new electric vehicle is prohivbitive for people on fixed income, and that we need to find a way to help people make this needed transition. 

Help is on the way. 

Last night, Jody Timms spoke at the Town Council meeting about a new cash for clunkers program now available in the Bay Area (details on the home page of this website). 

Tantalizing - Even better for the world, but, unfortunately, not for Fairfax at this point, the Bay Area Air Quality District yesterday announced another new program to help people of limited means to buy electric vehicles. This program is called Clean Cars for All and it was funded as part of the State's new allocation of money to fight climate change. The program will pay a GRANT of up to $9,500 for the purchase of an EV, a plug-in hybrid, or a fuel cell car - even used ones. This is kind of painful for those of us in Fairfax, but we can console ourselves, I guess, with the knowledge that the government is making good use of its Cap and Trade dollars (this is where the funding is coming from) and it will accelerate the uptake of these vehicles, which will ultimately lower their costs and make more used vehicles available - even in Marin. 

The good news, of course, is that there ARE considerable financial incentives available to all of us, and many are targeted at purchase of used vehicles, and for people of lower incomes. 

Here in Fairfax, we can benefit from:

Federal EV Tax Credit - up to $7,500, depending on car's battery capacity; 
Federal Fuel Cell tax credit - up to $8,000.
California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project - up to $4,500 for qualified vehicles, with more available for low-income applicants. 
California Fuel Award - Up to $1,500.
MCE Vehicle Rebate Program - up to $3,500 for low-income customers.
Community Housing Development Corp Incentive - up to $5,000, and including used cars. 
Drive Clean Discounts. 

You can learn more about all of these programs HERE. 

Fairfax has been a leader in uptake for MCE Deep Green in the County. Fairfax has been the first Town in the County to Declare a Climate Emergency. Fairfax has been a leader in adopting the ONLY Climate Action Plan aiming at Carbon Neutrality by 2030. Fairfax has been a leader in passing the first and only all-electric new buildings code in the County. 

Let's show the Town and the world that we, the people will be the leaders in getting to zero with our cars. 
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