Eagle Times Staff
Berlin, Vt. – Gov. Phil Scott and the Vermont Agency of Transportation announced changes Tuesday to statewide vehicle incentive programs for residents with personal vehicles damaged by flooding.
The effort provides increased financial support to households affected by this summer’s flood events and expedites the transition to plug-in electric vehicles.
“As we continue responding to this summer’s weather events, we remain focused on transitioning to an electric future, including in the transportation sector,” Scott said. “My team has been focused on making EVs a priority for years, and we will continue to take the lead on these efforts.”
Effective today, the agency is offering enhanced incentives for income-eligible Vermonters, including the Replace Your Ride Program, providing up to $5,000 for swapping a gas-or-diesel-powered vehicle for cleaner transportation and increasing program eligibility to include flood-damaged vehicles, whether drivable or not.
The Incentive Program for New Plug-in Electric Vehicles provides up to $5,000 for a newly purchased or leased vehicle. It provides an additional $1,000 incentive (up to $6,000 total) to Vermonters replacing a flood-damaged vehicle.
The MileageSmart Program, the state’s high-efficiency used vehicle program, provides up to 25 percent of a vehicle’s price and automatically provides a $5,000 incentive to Vermonters replacing a flood-damaged vehicle.
Program participants may use these programs to bundle different state incentives for up to $11,000 off a new PEV price and up to $10,000 off a used PEV, as well as with other local utility rebates and federal tax credits.
The administration worked over the past year to expand the impact of its vehicle incentive programs by increasing income eligibility, the number of participating households, vehicle eligibility, the number of PEV models available, and affordability with higher incentive amounts.
“As our agency works relentlessly to restore the state’s infrastructure and improve mobility throughout, we also recognize the devasting personal losses sustained by Vermonters during the recent flooding,” Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn said. “We hope these incentive changes will make a difference in curbing the worst effects of climate change and a big difference in the lives of residents still struggling to get back on their feet.”
For more information on incentive program changes supporting Vermonters affected by the flood and other clean transportation initiatives, visit Drive Electric Vermont at www.driveelectricvt.com.
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