April 23
Three U.S. senators said they plan to introduce bipartisan legislation that would promote the development and sales of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles to reduce the country´s reliance on foreign energy and to address global warming concerns.
During a Senate Finance Committee hearing on energy issues April 19, Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, discussed legislation they were preparing with Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., to encourage the development of new plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Hatch said it was dangerous that America´s transportation sector is 97 percent dependent on oil.
"We already have the technology right here at home to power most of the cars in America," Cantwell said. "We produce enough extra electricity right now to supply as much as 70 percent of the power needed by our cars, pickup trucks and SUVs."
Pushing electric vehicles into the marketplace is one of the most immediate actions the country can take to fight global climate change, Sen. Obama said.
Their plan would include a three-pronged strategy to promote the development and sales of vehicles running on pure electric vehicles powered by batteries, plug-in electric hybrids and plug-in fuel cell vehicles.
The first part of their proposal calls for significant tax credits for consumers who purchase qualifying plug-in vehicles.
The second part of the strategy would provide tax incentives for the U.S. production of plug-in electric vehicles and dedicated parts.
The third proposal would offer incentives for electric utilities to provide rebates to customers who purchase plug-in vehicles. The incentives would provide the largest incentives to the utilities producing the greenest energy.
The senators said they were still working on the exact wording of the proposed legislation, but said they hope to introduce it soon.
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