A new outreach program would be designed to reach undeserved communities, as well as communities that have a large proportion of high-emission vehicles, according to the bill summary.
“We wanted to make sure in the bill that we are not stimulating the purchase of electric vehicles by single-car owners at the expense of people who live in cities, and who may not be able to afford a car or who may rely at least primarily on mass transit,” said Sen. Mike Barrett, the Senate chair of the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee.
The heftier rebates make it more feasible for middle-income residents to purchase electric vehicles, he said. And by 2028, commuters who depend on bus transportation should expect to travel in clean buses.
“We’re intent on making sure that working-class people and poor people have the same opportunities to breathe clean air and transportation as people living in the suburbs do. So we’re being pretty tough about that,” Barrett said of the strict timelines involved. “And it’s directly responsive to our concern about environmental justice.”
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