This bill is another government boondoggle that has all the right catchphrases and doom and gloom on "the climate disaster." It purports to solve a problem that supposedly is wracking our state (zero evidence provided), and is written to scare the population into believing in a problem that clearly doesn't exist. It's comical to read the comments from the Sierra Clubs, Climate Coalitions, and other charlatan groups claiming to be the "experts" on global warming push the claim that electric vehicles will somehow do anything to slow or stop the so-called warming of the planet. Every single prediction on "climate crisis" since the 1970s have been wrong, on every level. The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the same agency that has promoted the lie of global warming (sorry, now it's "Climate Change"), predicted in their first assessment of global warming in 1989 that entire nations would be "wiped off of the earth" if drastic action against global warming wasn't taken by the year 2000 (11 years). The public was told that coastal flooding and crop failures would create an exodus of ″eco- refugees,′ ′ threatening political chaos. We were told governments have “a 10-year window of opportunity to solve the greenhouse effect before it goes beyond human control." Sound familiar? June 29, 1989: https://apnews.com/article/bd45c372caf118ec99964ea547880cd0. Well, here we are, almost 32 years later, and none of these doomsday predictions have even come remotely true. How many more times are Virginia legislators going to try to keep peddling the same lie, over and over again, and expect hardworking families to believe (and pay) for this nonsense? While the rest of the Commonwealth struggles to recover economically from a real issue (Coronavirus unconstitutional Governor imposed lockdowns), the legislature is considering giving tax rebates to mostly rich, suburban Northern Virginia Democrat voters (who seriously don't need a tax rebate) to purchase an electric car?? Are you people really that stupid? According to EPA's own US Greenhouse Data data, https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks, emissions in 2018 (latest available data) are lower than they have been since 2005 and are on a downward trend, in spite of record economic growth from 2017-2019 under the Trump Administration. Even US emissions from the transportation sector now are lower than they were in 2005. Where exactly is the "crisis"? As further evidence of this folly of electric cars, former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy was forced to admit during Congressional testimony about the nonexistent impact that the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan would have had on global greenhouse gas emissions. The Clean Power Plan was thankfully ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. After questioning from Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) at the Sept.18, 2013 hearing of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power, McCarthy admitted that the CPP will have essentially no impact on climate change. Further testimony stated if all coal-fired generation in the US were eliminated, according to the UN and the IPCC, this would reduce CO2 levels globally by merely 0.2 percent. If "expert" testimony during this hearing proved a near total $1 trillion takeover of the entire US electricity sector by EPA regulation was shown to have no impact on climate change, what does this legislation accomplish then?

Please support HB 1979, to initiate a rebate program for the purchase of new and used electric vehicles. • To address the climate crisis, we need to accelerate EV adoption, by making them more AVAILABLE, as HB 1965 (Bagby) will do, and by making new and used EVs more AFFORDABLE, as HB 1979 will do. • A November 2020 DMME report concluded that EV rebates are FEASIBLE and will produce significant ENVIRONMENTAL and HEALTH benefits, as well as significant ECONOMIC benefits, by using “less expensive, local, homegrown electricity instead of out-of-state oil” and keeping “Virginians’ fuel dollars circulating in the state’s economy through the consumption of electricity and other goods and services purchased with the savings from the switch to electricity.” (https://rga.lis.virginia.gov/Published/2020/HD9/PDF) • Rebates increase sales, a proven concept that works well at the federal level and in many other states. • To help make Virginia cleaner, healthier, more prosperous, and more attractive to families and businesses, please vote YES on HB 1979. Thank you.

HB 1979 As you know, Transportation accounts for close to half of all carbon emissions in Virginia. We simply cannot seriously address climate change without tackling the transportation sector. As we look to reduce these emissions, we must consider transit, zoning, and transportation electrification. Electrification will require the adoption of clean car standards, increased infrastructure, and initial incentives to spur adoption. HB 1979 represents an appropriately narrow, temporary financial incentive that will help us bridge the gap between current EV prices and the point price parity. It is an equitably structured rebate to ensure that MORE Virginians can enjoy the advantages of EV ownership. This bill is part of a larger package aimed at reducing transportation related emissions, protecting public health, and increasing consumer choice. CCAN Action Fund supports this bill and we hope you will too.

It is vital that you support HB 1979 because it will incentivize the purchase of electric cars.... Additionally: -The motor vehicle dealer where the vehicle is purchased or leased would receive a refund for the amount of the rebate and a $50 incentive payment for each rebate processed -A purchaser or lessee of an electric vehicle would receive a $2,500 rebate at the time of purchase, and a purchaser or lessee with an annual household income that does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty level would be entitled to an additional $2,000 rebate. -The bill also establishes an Electric Vehicle Rebate Advisory Council to oversee the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program and to make recommendations regarding its implementation. The Director of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy is required to report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding the Program I hope you take time to consider these facts. This bill is essential for combating climate change.

Sierra Club supports HB1979 and the electrical vehicle rebate program. We believe that EV Rebates are critical to increasing the adoption of electric vehicles in Virginia. Increased EV adoption will help Virginia reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector. The rebates in this program will make it affordable for a wide variety of Virginians to be purchase an EV. In addition, Virginia consumers will discover that operating electric vehicles is significantly cheaper than gas- or diesel-powered vehicles.

I urge the Committee not only to forward HB 1979, but to also recommend that sufficient funds be allocated to make it happen. The FY2021 Budget, in HB 1800 and SB 1100, filed prior to the Legislative session starting, calls for an overall Transportation budget of $9.4 Billion. Of this amount, $5.7 Billion is allocated for Highway Construction Programs, and Highway System and Maintenance. (Sections 447 and 448). So an allocation of $50 million per year for an EV Rebate program would equate to 0.53% of the amount being spent on highways. That is, one half of 1 percent. We can’t wait the few years remaining before the upfront cost of EVs is equal to gasoline cars if Virginia is to reach its carbon emissions reduction goals and have an immediate beneficial impact on the health of our citizens; Several studies, including rep[orts in peer-reviewed journal publications, have shown rebates to be the most effective method for increasing the number of EV purchases; The FY2021 Budget, in HB 1800 and SB 1100, filed prior to the Legislative session starting, calls for an overall Transportation budget of $9.4 Billion. Of this amount, $5.7 Billion is allocated for Highway Construction Programs, and Highway System and Maintenance. (Sections 447 and 448). So an allocation of $50 million per year for an EV Rebate program would equate to 0.53% of the amount being spent on highways. That is, one half of 1 percent. To say that there is no money for a program that would have such an significant impact on carbon emission and health-damaging pollution program is unreasonable. Especially when you read the monthly reports of the FY 21 State Revenues received which have been well over forecasts. Thank you.

EVgo is the nation's largest EV charging network . We support HB 1979 without reservation.

Environment Virginia strongly supports HB 1979 and HB 2118. Both of these bills will advance electrification and transform transportation across Virginia. HB 1979 creates an EV Rebate program Virginia very much so needs. Transportation accounts for most of Virginia's carbon emissions and personal vehicles makes up the most of the sector. EV Rebates would address this issue by not only incentivizing EV purchases but for many, making it an option for the first time. EV cost less over the lifetime of the vehicle so not only will people be able to buy an affordable, clean vehicle, they will be saving money each month. An EV Rebate would be a good thing for Virginia, our climate and public health. HB 2118 would establish an electrification fund. This is necessary in Virginia. We need to replace thousands of school buses, transit buses, fleet vehicles, etc. in Virginia with clean, electric vehicles. It is dirtier in a school bus than it is outside of one. They are among the dirtiest vehicles on the road and we send our children to school on these buses. Making this transition has up front cost barriers while in the long run being more cost effective. Schools want to provide a safe, healthy option. They want the lifetime savings. They want to be stewards of the environment. This fund makes that happen and ensures electrification projects will be prioritized based on need. We need to move forward with clean transportation and this fund will give Virginia the boost it needs to do so.

This bill is needed to incentivize adoption of electric vehicles. 70% of GHG emissions from the transportation sector (the largest single source of GHG emissions in VA) is from personal vehicles. Justice components included. This is especially needed in NoVA which is a non-attainment zone for Air Quality.

Investing in a rebate program for electric vehicles will broaden access to a technology that will yield significant, quantifiable benefits to the Commonwealth of Virginia and its citizens: (1) driving an EV in Virginia will save a driver ~$3,511 in fuel costs, freeing up dollars for consumer spending that creates local jobs and supports Virginia’s economy instead of going outside of the state and the country to oil suppliers and refiners; (2) using the Social Cost of Carbon, each EV on the road in Virginia prevents ~$1,616 in damages from carbon in the atmosphere; (3) transportation accounts for more than half of all the air pollution in the United States, so every EV on the road prevents health damages of ~$1,144; (4) dependence on imported fossil fuels for transportation results in risk and costs associated with fuel security and national security, amounting to $2,269 that can be avoided by encouraging someone to go electric for their next car; and (5) each EV can provide about ~$1867 in benefits to the electric grid. For more details, see this two pager: https://evadc.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/EVInfo/Virginia-Benefits-Chart-2021-30.pdf.

Sierra Club supports HB1979 and the electrical vehicle rebate program. We believe that EV Rebates are critical to increasing the adoption of electric vehicles in Virginia. Increased EV adoption will help Virginia reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector. The rebates in this program will make it affordable for a wide variety of Virginians to be purchase an EV. In addition, Virginia consumers will discover that operating electric vehicles is significantly cheaper than gas- or diesel-powered vehicles.

Chair Sullivan, and members of House Finance Subcommittee #3, I’m Nathan Soules, and I’m speaking on behalf of Zero Carbon Virginia in support of Delegate Reid’s HB1979 and Delegate Keam’s HB2118. Zero Carbon Virginia is a group of scientists, engineers, economists, public health experts, and concerned citizens who seek a path towards a zero-carbon future. We feel that these bills support our mission. There is a growing consensus that cleaning the electric grid while “electrifying everything” is an effective strategy for overall decarbonization. While the VCEA was an important first step toward cleaning the electric sector, electrifying the transportation sector, which accounts for 48% of emissions, is a vital next step. HB1979 According to the department of energy, in Virginia, EVs (electric vehicles) generate 1/3rd the emissions of ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles. According to the EV Rebate Report written by the working group created for this bill, a high adoption scenario of EVs would result in a total reduction of 8.8 million short tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2027 - the equivalent of shutting down an average coal plant for 2 years. Auto manufacturers plan to introduce 100 EV models by 2024. Consumers will have a range of choices, however, the up-front purchase costs of EVs remains an obstacle for many. EVs tend to cost more than similar ICE vehicles up front, but have lower fuel and maintenance costs. This bill will give consumers a point of sale discount, accelerate the adoption of EVs in Virginia, and enable a wider range of consumers to reap their benefits. HB2118 Electric school buses are a win-win-win-win: lower greenhouse gas emissions for the state, students are exposed to fewer brain-stunting diesel emissions, lower fuel and maintenance costs save school districts money, and the batteries from these buses can be used to store excess electricity from the grid. According to a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists, electric buses in Virginia emit about 1/3rd the greenhouse gas emissions of equivalent diesel-powered buses. This number will improve as the electricity fueling these buses gets cleaner. Funding this program by levying a tax on diesel may also result in further greenhouse gas emission reductions. Direct exposure to diesel emissions has an impact on students. A Georgia State University study found that standardized test scores were higher for students who rode buses that were retrofitted to filter out harmful pollutants. Electric school buses are cheaper to fuel and maintain than diesel buses. The EV Grant Program would enable school districts to benefit from lower operational costs without paying a penalty in capital. V2G, vehicle to grid, presents another potential financial benefit for school districts. The large batteries in these vehicles can store power from the grid, which can then be sold back to the grid. With more storage on the grid, utilities are able to add more renewable energy. There is a notable synergy between the school schedule and solar output. After school buses drop off students at school in the morning, they are free to top off their batteries by soaking up extra solar-generated electricity during the hours of peak sunlight. Solar intensity is higher in the summer and daylight is longer - just as buses are freed up during summer vacation. Thank you for your time.

The Nature Conservancy supports Delegate Reid’s HB 1979. Rebates will make electric vehicles more affordable to more customers, resulting in fewer new gas-powered cars on the road. Society will benefit from the reduced carbon dioxide pollution, and people who live in high traffic areas will breathe cleaner air as a result of faster adoption of electric vehicles.

In 2018, I bought a used EV. I bought an EV because I understand that we are on a path to disastrous climate instability of our own making. I understand that we, humans, especially US, and our arrogant, extravagant way of life are the primary cause of the existential threat we now face. I understand that successful modification of our behavior at a societal level is necessary if we hope to avoid runaway warming in our children's lifetime. I understand that people are reluctant to change, if that change is not demonstrated positively by others. So, I chose to be that change, so others could see it in action. I don't view the purchase of my used EV as something that was a more expensive option than its combustion engine alternatives. There were plenty of 'pricey' CEs offered, as well. As I see it, price and value are very subjective and I've always preferred gently used vehicles to new. All that said, having the financial backing, support, encouragement of the recognized authorities of our Commonwealth in this effort to decarbonize my means of personal transportation sure would have been nice.

I am writing to request your support for HB1979 (Reid). This Bill creates state incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs) in VA. Currently, if you buy an EV, you can get a $7,000 federal tax credit. HB1979 would allow EV purchasers to receive an additional $2,500 rebate at the time of purchase. States that have implemented EV rebates have seen a significant impact. Therefore, states that have these programs get priority from manufacturers. We all know we need to move to EVs given the climate crisis. This program will help VA get there faster. Thanks! Annette Lang, Arlington

Please support HB 1979. This bill will help encourage EV sales and thereby reduce carbon emissions. And note that this bill calls for a higher rebate for low income purchasers. As an owner of an EV for more than 4 years, I can attest that these cars save considerable money over the long term, since maintenance is minimal and fuel (electricity) is much cheaper than gasoline or diesel. Plus they're fun to drive -- once you drive one you won't want to go back to a standard car! Thank you for your time and consideration.

Please support HB1979 which would create a rebate program for the purchase or lease of new and used electric vehicles. My husband and I are the proud owners of a Chevy Bolt, which is totally electric. We purchased it in August of 2019. We were able to take advantage of a federal tax credit, which was an added incentive, even though we felt passionate enough about reducing our carbon footprint that we would have purchased an electric vehicle regardless. However, from talking to our friends, we find that there are many people who are receptive to the idea of buying an electric vehicle but may need a little more incentive. This would certainly help! There is also a clause that would provide an additional rebate for certain households based on income. A major portion of carbon emissions comes from vehicles. Virginia needs to do more to make electric vehicles more attractive to consumers.

Sierra Club supports HB1979 and the electrical vehicle rebate program. We believe that EV Rebates are critical to increasing the adoption of electric vehicles in Virginia. Increased EV adoption will help Virginia reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector. The rebates in this program will make it affordable for a wide variety of Virginians to be purchase an EV. In addition, Virginia consumers will discover that operating electric vehicles is significantly cheaper than gas- or diesel-powered vehicles.

I write in support of both HB1979 and HB2118. One of the biggest barriers of ownership to EVs is cost. While this will not all be the case forever, right now, we still remain in the nascent phase of Electric Vehicle adoption. This has been made even harder with the registration fees places on EVs which are by a factor of two more expensive for Electric Cars relative to an equivalent Hybrid. Further, as I testified last year, ones first car is often the car we get in university. But, as a starving college student, there's no way we can afford an expensive new EV. That's what makes HB1979 so revolutionary, as it provides the rebate to even used electric cars, bringing such starter vehicles in the price range of a College student. Finally, greenhouse gas emissions are a danger to all Virginias and there is no greater source of those than among Virginia's less advantaged. If you're barely scraping by, there's no way you'd be considering a new Electric Car. You're limited to used vehicles, and those cheap used vehicles are mostly the most polluting vehicles available. This rebate would rectify that situation. It would put a used LEAF or Chevy Volt in the price range attainable to those less affluent. As a consequence, this rebate will go a long way to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by taking some of the dirtiest cars off our roadways. I entreat you to support this bill. I also write in support of HB2118. Last year, this General Assembly defeated 4 (FOUR) great Electric School Bus bills. I'm thankful Fairfax County, VA, has agreed to consider Electric School Buses for its next purchase, but it will be hard for other, less affluent counties to follow suit without this bill. We need to give localities the helping hand they need to take some of the most polluting vehicles off our roadways. I urge you to support this bill.

On behalf of clean energy nonprofit Generation180 and our network of electric vehicle owners and ambassadors across Virginia, we ask for your support for HB 1979. As the Commonwealth transitions away from fossil fuels and works to address carbon emissions from the transportation sector, policies that advance vehicle electrification are crucial. While electric vehicles (EVs) have a significantly lower total cost of ownership than comparable gasoline-powered cars, their upfront purchase price is currently a barrier to widespread adoption. Financial incentives can accelerate our transition to electric mobility until EVs reach price parity, which is critical to tackling climate change and protecting the health of Virginians. Low to moderate income communities can particularly benefit from the savings electric vehicles provide, and this bill has been crafted with them in mind. Delegate Reid’s proposal includes one of the most aggressive enhanced rebates of any state’s financial incentives, and is careful to preserve significant funding for Virginians who need help the most. The proposed program also applies to used vehicles, which are considered to be more accessible. The racial justice nonprofit the Greenlining Institute agrees that bringing down the upfront cost of electric vehicles is "the most effective purchase incentive tool in giving low-income drivers real, meaningful access to EVs,” and we wholeheartedly concur. The additional price cap component of this legislation ensures this is a targeted program, working to help the Virginians who need it most. We ask you to help Virginia join ranks with the 15 other states that have implemented EV incentives and support this bill.

My name is Dr. Shelley Francis and I represent EVNoire and EVHybridNoire. Our national 501c3 non-profit, EVHybridNoire, is the largest organization of African American and Latin X EV Owners and Enthusiasts in the country, including right here in Virginia. I am a proud graduate of the Medical College of Virginia and the University of Richmond. My professional background is in public health work, including leadership roles at the Georgia Department of Public Health and faculty positions at Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. As an EV owner who is passionate about public health, I urge you to support policies that help accelerate our transition to electric mobility. The transportation sector, powered by fossil fuels used in cars, trucks, and buses, are major contributors to air pollution and are the number one cause of climate change. Numerous research studies have confirmed that exposure to these toxins poses significant risks to public health. Right now, COVID-19 is shining a light on the health disparities throughout our country. We've seen so clearly how this virus disproportionately affects communities of color, and transportation emissions do just the same. Communities of color right here in Virginia breathe 66 percent more air pollution from vehicles than white residents on average. The Harvard School of Public Health found that transportation-related PM2.5, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide emissions led to 750 premature deaths in Virginia in 2016, and this trend is on the rise. For this and so many other reasons, it is critically important that we move forward with policies that will help accelerate the number of EVs on our roads. Transitioning away from fossil fuels to electric transportation is a proven strategy to mitigate air pollution, helping tackle climate change and improve public health at the same time. We need to move towards electric mobility as fast as we can, and we particularly need policies that help make EVs more accessible for low-to-moderate income communities. I urge you to support legislation, including this bill, that can help make these goals a reality.

I am writing to support HB 1979. As an electric vehicle owner and advocate for the last seven years, I have talked to a lot of people who are interested in transportation electrification because of its economic, environmental, and technological benefits. But they often mention that EVs cost more, and price matters even more those in LMI communities. ¶ Indeed, electric vehicles do cost more than their gasoline powered counterparts — $7,500 as of August 2020, according to Kelley Blue Book. This is primarily due to the cost of their battery. ¶ Studies have found that incentives aimed at reducing that price differential are a significant driver for increased EV adoption. It’s not necessarily because consumers whip out their calculator to see how much the rebate will reduce their total cost of ownership. It’s because they will perceive EVs as a better value than gasoline cars — they’ll pay less of a premium to get all of the benefits of EV ownership. ¶ Rebates are generally more effective than tax credits, and those that are provided at the point of sale are the most effective. People tend to discount the value of rewards they receive in the future versus the present. In addition, not every consumer earns enough income to have a tax liability to apply a credit towards. Finally, a point-of-sale rebate applied to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price would incentivize both the purchasing and leasing of EVs. ¶ A rebate program should be as agnostic as possible about which electric vehicles are eligible. This has several benefits. First, it is simpler for car buyers and sellers to understand and for the program manager to implement . Second, broad eligibility would maximize the impact of the program and minimize market distortions. Consumers should be able to pick the car that is right for them, whether it is a plug-in hybrid or all electric, is new or used, is purchased or leased, or has a large battery or a small one.

On behalf of NRDC's nearly 10,000 paying members here in the Commonwealth, we SUPPORT passage of this much-improved, and much-negotiated bill. The most important reason is to ensure passage of Virginia's single-BIGGEST action on climate change yet ("Clean Cars"), which will yield more than TRIPLE the pollution reductions of last year's Clean Economy Act, but at ZERO cost to the Commonwealth.

Dear Committee Members: I am writing to support HB 1979, Electric Car Rebate. Because so much of Virginia’s Carbon emissions come from personal vehicles, this bill is a critical step in reducing those emissions. • The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy reported in November 2020 report that EV rebates are indeed feasible, and will produce significant environmental and health benefits, plus significant economic benefits, by using “less expensive, local, homegrown electricity instead of out-of-state oil” and keeping “Virginians’ fuel dollars circulating in the state’s economy.” • That study just confirms what the U.S Congressional Research Service found in its February 2020 Report on Electric Car Policies: “incentives given closer to the point of sale, such as a rebate given at the time of purchase, are more effective in stimulating vehicle sales than tax credits.” Please Report this bill to the Full House for a vote. Thank you.

I write in support of HB 1979 and its Electric Vehicle (EV) rebate program. The transportation sector is a major producer of CO2 and other pollutants, so the elimination of Internal Combustion Vehicles (ICVs) must be an essential component of our effort to get a handle on the climate change crisis. While many advances have been made in EV development and a greater number and variety of EVs will be released in coming years, the purchase price of EVs is still more expensive than comparable ICVs. The point-of-sale rebates in HB 1979 can help to offset this difference and make EVs more attractive to Virginians when they shop for their next vehicle. I further appreciate the additional rebate offered to low-income buyers: in addition to the immediate benefits of a reduced purchase price, it will help low-income Virginians access the lower ongoing fuel and maintenance costs associated with EVs compared to ICVs. It is important that these are point-of-sale rebates, since low-income buyers may not be able to take advantage of incentives like the federal tax credit. There is another important way in which the EV rebate program will help to increase EV adoption in Virginia: it will encourage greater availability of EVs at Virginia dealerships, not only providing more opportunities for Virginians to purchase them, but keeping that economic activity within the state. As I shopped for an EV in the last few months, I found that despite living within walking distance of multiple car dealers, the only EV available to test drive at any of them was a $120,000+ Porsche Taycan - hardly the affordable family car we need - and I would have to go to Maryland to find some of the models we were interested in. "Virginia Drives Electric 2020", a report by Generation 180, found that the lack of EV incentives and other related policies, such as the regulations established in HB 1965, has led to 44-54% lower EV inventory in Virginia cities than in comparable cities in Maryland. The adoption of HB 1979's EV rebate program will encourage manufacturers to send more EV stock to our dealers, which will in turn help to accelerate EV adoption among Virginians, while keeping that economic activity in Virginia. The switch in the auto market to EVs is starting to accelerate, and currently Virginia is missing out on the environmental and economic benefits of participating in that movement. Please help our state step forward and meet this moment.

As a Virginia new-car dealer, I recognize electric vehicles are our future. Our new Biden administration has indicated that they will support and emphasize the move towards Electric vehicles and the needed infrastructure to support the demand. Virginia can either choose to be a leader now, embracing all the benefits electric vehicles have to offer, or wait and do nothing. Given electric vehicles are currently higher priced than traditional gas cars, Delegate Reid's Electric Vehicle Rebate bill is a key lever to speed the adoption of electric vehicles in Virginia. As a dealer, I can attest to the important role incentives play in driving demand. Most of the states that require zero emission sales, support with state backed incentives. In the simplest terms, incentives sell cars. They are the most fundamental tool of a dealer. The incentive will help mitigate the higher price of an electric vehicle, making them accessible to all Virginians. If being part of the future of a cleaner, safer, and more equitable Virginia is important to you, please support Delegate Reid's Electric Vehicle Rebate Program; HB1979

I fully support the rebate program. I'm pleased the current bill includes support for for lower income Virginia residents and used electric cars. Used Battery Electric Vehicles are key to reduced CO2 footprint while ensuring electric vehicles are utilized for their entire lifecycle. Right now (Jan 2021), a used Bolt is ~15K-18K with 200 miles of battery range. The rebates ensures affordability for the bulk of our population and ensure long lasting life cycles. My only suggestion is to move up the credit as early in the calendar year as possible, or to make them retroactive if needed. This will accelerate adopting Battery Electric Vehicles in VA. We need to align with modern emissions and adopt guidelines that other states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia have adopted. This is key to driving emissions lower. I support additional taxes / fees to pay for this. I'd suggest adding fees to the most polluting vehicles sold in the state to pay or help pay for this rebate. Next up is dramatically increasing renewable energy requirements by Virginia Power. This isn't hard. Get the vehicles on the road and green the grid!!!! As the grid gets greener, emissions per mile in Virginia go down dramatically. Virginia is a wonderful place to live, I'm happy to call my self a resident and product of Virginia public schools. I've benefited from the core investments Virginia's made in education, infrastructure and health. This is another core investment that will pay "dividends" for future generations in our great state. Let's make Virginia even better!!!!! Thank you!

While an electric vehicle (EV) is cheaper to fuel and maintain over its lifetime than a comparable gasoline-powered car, it is more expensive to purchase. This cost differential has long been considered a major barrier for widespread adoption of EVs, which is a necessary component of combating air pollution and climate change in Virginia. (1) Several studies suggest that rebates and tax credits should offset some of the differential in order to incentivize car buyers to choose an EV over gasoline or diesel cars. These studies also suggest that a rebate is a more effective policy lever to accelerate the electrification of transportation in the Commonwealth of Virginia. For example, consumers immediately receive the incentive rather than having to wait until they file their tax returns and the returns are processed.(2) In addition, a rebate would be more meaningful than a tax credit to low-income families, since it can be used by those who don’t earn enough to file taxes. This would help low-income communities that often suffer the most from air pollution and are least able to deal with the increased flooding and incidence of other extreme weather associated with climate change. Making the rebate income adjusted (the lower the income, the higher the savings) and applicable to used vehicles also helps broaden the adoption of electric vehicles beyond the demographic of white, affluent men who account for the majority of the current customer base for EVs.(3) Del. Reid's bill meets all of these criteria for an effective policy. As for the source of funding for the EV rebate, reallocating the budget for the Virginia Coal Employment and Production Incentive Tax Credit and the Coalfield Employment Enhancement Tax Credit is a sensible solution. A JLARC study in September 2020 recommended that these tax credits be eliminated because they are no longer needed. (4) Since the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority had received 15 percent of any coalfield tax credits refunded to payers and this money helped fund renewable energy projects in southwest Virginia, among other things, this money cab be made up for elsewhere in the state budget. FOOTNOTES: (1) - Virginia Drives Electric 2020: Benefits, Barriers and Policies Needed for Widespread EV Adoption in Virginia, Generation180, 2020. (2) - Plug-in Electric Vehicle Policy Effectiveness: Literature Review, Argonne National Laboratory, 2016. (3) - Environmental Attributes of Electric Vehicle Ownership and Commuting Behavior in Maryland: Public Policy and Equity Considerations, Morgan State University, 2018. (4) - Infrastructure and Regional Incentives: Economic Development Incentives Evaluation Series, Report 536, Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, 2020.

Environment Virginia strongly supports HB 1979 and HB 2118. Both of these bills will advance electrification and transform transportation across Virginia. HB 1979 creates an EV Rebate program Virginia very much so needs. Transportation accounts for most of Virginia's carbon emissions and personal vehicles makes up the most of the sector. EV Rebates would address this issue by not only incentivizing EV purchases but for many, making it an option for the first time. EV cost less over the lifetime of the vehicle so not only will people be able to buy an affordable, clean vehicle, they will be saving money each month. An EV Rebate would be a good thing for Virginia, our climate and public health. HB 2118 would establish an electrification fund. This is necessary in Virginia. We need to replace thousands of school buses, transit buses, fleet vehicles, etc. in Virginia with clean, electric vehicles. It is dirtier in a school bus than it is outside of one. They are among the dirtiest vehicles on the road and we send our children to school on these buses. Making this transition has up front cost barriers while in the long run being more cost effective. Schools want to provide a safe, healthy option. They want the lifetime savings. They want to be stewards of the environment. This fund makes that happen and ensures electrification projects will be prioritized based on need. We need to move forward with clean transportation and this fund will give Virginia the boost it needs to do so.

I strongly support this bill. This will provide a mechanism by which money may be received from the US Government's federal stimulus spending targeted for transportation electrification. The Biden Administration has promised to help fund the acquisition of electric school buses so that all school buses in the country are electric by 2030. As the Biden Administration considering ways to increase transportation electrification as part of stimulus spending to the states this year, the funds to be established by HB 2118 would be very good mechanisms for Virginia to use to quickly to spend stimulus money likely coming from the Biden Administration for transportation electrification.

This bill is needed to facilitate the transition to electric vehicles in the public sector. It will not only help mitigate climate change, it will protect the health of public school students. With new technology available, there is no need to expose our children to hazardous emissions from internal combustion engines running on fossil fuels. Please support.

Sierra Club supports HB 2118 and electric school buses. In Fairfax County, 1,652 school buses use approximately 2.5 million gallons of diesel and produce more than 24,000 tons of CO2 in a normal year. In addition to CO2, diesel buses emit particulate matter (pm2.5) and other pollutants including Benzene. All of these pollutants impact the neighborhoods and students who ride the buses. We believe that now is the time to address this problem.

The Commonwealth has raised diesel and fuel taxes the last two years. We are now among the most expensive fuel tax states in the U.S. This bill levies a 5 cent per gallon dyed diesel fuel tax. It will increase costs for off-road vehicle refueling and diesel generation back-up costs for all our facilities. There is also no correlation between the tax and spending. Spending will be on electric vehicle recharging infrastructure, training, and electric school buses at $265,000 per unit. According to a recent report, diesel buses cost about $90,000; propane buses cost about $98,000; compressed natural gas buses cost about $120,000. This is a vanity tax that will overspend on public infrastructure and make Virginia's manufacturing sector less competitive. https://stnonline.com/special-reports/new-school-transportation-studies-compare-costs-advantages-and-wages/#:~:text=Propane%20school%20buses%20cost%20about,percent%20more%20than%20diesel%20buses.

Chair Sullivan, and members of House Finance Subcommittee #3, I’m Nathan Soules, and I’m speaking on behalf of Zero Carbon Virginia in support of Delegate Reid’s HB1979 and Delegate Keam’s HB2118. Zero Carbon Virginia is a group of scientists, engineers, economists, public health experts, and concerned citizens who seek a path towards a zero-carbon future. We feel that these bills support our mission. There is a growing consensus that cleaning the electric grid while “electrifying everything” is an effective strategy for overall decarbonization. While the VCEA was an important first step toward cleaning the electric sector, electrifying the transportation sector, which accounts for 48% of emissions, is a vital next step. HB1979 According to the department of energy, in Virginia, EVs (electric vehicles) generate 1/3rd the emissions of ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles. According to the EV Rebate Report written by the working group created for this bill, a high adoption scenario of EVs would result in a total reduction of 8.8 million short tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2027 - the equivalent of shutting down an average coal plant for 2 years. Auto manufacturers plan to introduce 100 EV models by 2024. Consumers will have a range of choices, however, the up-front purchase costs of EVs remains an obstacle for many. EVs tend to cost more than similar ICE vehicles up front, but have lower fuel and maintenance costs. This bill will give consumers a point of sale discount, accelerate the adoption of EVs in Virginia, and enable a wider range of consumers to reap their benefits. HB2118 Electric school buses are a win-win-win-win: lower greenhouse gas emissions for the state, students are exposed to fewer brain-stunting diesel emissions, lower fuel and maintenance costs save school districts money, and the batteries from these buses can be used to store excess electricity from the grid. According to a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists, electric buses in Virginia emit about 1/3rd the greenhouse gas emissions of equivalent diesel-powered buses. This number will improve as the electricity fueling these buses gets cleaner. Funding this program by levying a tax on diesel may also result in further greenhouse gas emission reductions. Direct exposure to diesel emissions has an impact on students. A Georgia State University study found that standardized test scores were higher for students who rode buses that were retrofitted to filter out harmful pollutants. Electric school buses are cheaper to fuel and maintain than diesel buses. The EV Grant Program would enable school districts to benefit from lower operational costs without paying a penalty in capital. V2G, vehicle to grid, presents another potential financial benefit for school districts. The large batteries in these vehicles can store power from the grid, which can then be sold back to the grid. With more storage on the grid, utilities are able to add more renewable energy. There is a notable synergy between the school schedule and solar output. After school buses drop off students at school in the morning, they are free to top off their batteries by soaking up extra solar-generated electricity during the hours of peak sunlight. Solar intensity is higher in the summer and daylight is longer - just as buses are freed up during summer vacation. Thank you for your time.

The Nature Conservancy supports Delegate Keam’s HB 2118. Replacing diesel-powered school buses reduces carbon dioxide pollution and provides cleaner air for school children to breathe while riding the bus. Currently, the upfront costs of electric school buses are substantially more than the upfront costs of new diesel school buses. Delegate Keam’s bill is a creative solution to bridge this cost gap.

Please vote "yes" on bill 2118, which requires the DEQ to establish the Electric Vehicle Grant Program for the purpose of awarding grants to school boards for assisting with replacement of diesel buses with electric school buses, as well as charging infrastructure, training, and outreach. My husband and I are strong supporters of electric vehicles (we own a Chevy Bolt) and believe that electrifying all vehicles is the wave of the future. It makes absolute sense that school buses should be electric. They will cost less to operate over the life of the vehicle, and they will produce 67% less life-cycle emissions than diesel buses. In addition, diesel emissions contain benzene, a known carcinogen, which contributes to asthma and heart disease. Electric buses would be more cost-effective, cleaner, quieter, and help our children to be healthier.

Sierra Club supports HB 2118 and electric school buses. In Fairfax County, 1,652 school buses use approximately 2.5 million gallons of diesel and produce more than 24,000 tons of CO2 in a normal year. In addition to CO2, diesel buses emit particulate matter (pm2.5) and other pollutants including Benzene. All of these pollutants impact the neighborhoods and students who ride the buses. We believe that now is the time to address this problem.

I write in support of both HB1979 and HB2118. One of the biggest barriers of ownership to EVs is cost. While this will not all be the case forever, right now, we still remain in the nascent phase of Electric Vehicle adoption. This has been made even harder with the registration fees places on EVs which are by a factor of two more expensive for Electric Cars relative to an equivalent Hybrid. Further, as I testified last year, ones first car is often the car we get in university. But, as a starving college student, there's no way we can afford an expensive new EV. That's what makes HB1979 so revolutionary, as it provides the rebate to even used electric cars, bringing such starter vehicles in the price range of a College student. Finally, greenhouse gas emissions are a danger to all Virginias and there is no greater source of those than among Virginia's less advantaged. If you're barely scraping by, there's no way you'd be considering a new Electric Car. You're limited to used vehicles, and those cheap used vehicles are mostly the most polluting vehicles available. This rebate would rectify that situation. It would put a used LEAF or Chevy Volt in the price range attainable to those less affluent. As a consequence, this rebate will go a long way to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by taking some of the dirtiest cars off our roadways. I entreat you to support this bill. I also write in support of HB2118. Last year, this General Assembly defeated 4 (FOUR) great Electric School Bus bills. I'm thankful Fairfax County, VA, has agreed to consider Electric School Buses for its next purchase, but it will be hard for other, less affluent counties to follow suit without this bill. We need to give localities the helping hand they need to take some of the most polluting vehicles off our roadways. I urge you to support this bill.

I urge you to support HB 2118, patroned by Del. Keam. The health and safety of our children is a paramount concern – and yet school children are subjected to daily exposure to toxic pollution from diesel school buses. These buses constitute a very real danger to our kids. In addition to greenhouse gases, diesel buses emit benzene, a known carcinogen, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that increases the risk of asthma and heart disease. And the concentration of these toxins is up to six times higher inside the school buses as outside. More than 125,000 Virginia school children already have asthma, and studies suggest some 20% or more of middle school and high school students may face lifelong respiratory disease. Replacing diesel school buses with electric school buses will help students stay healthy and stay in school, and reduce the healthcare burden on their families. But that is not the only benefit. The use of electric school buses will also save school districts as much as $170,000 per bus over its lifetime, USPIRG estimates, due to lower fuel costs, lower maintenance costs, and lower repair costs. Electrifying school buses can also play a surprisingly large role in helping the environment. While there are some 140,000 transit buses in the U.S., there are roughly 480,000 school buses – nearly three and a half times as many – making them collectively the largest mass transit system in the country. And Virginia has the second-largest school bus fleet in the U.S., so decarbonizing school buses will greatly help the environment. However, the stumbling block to achieving all these benefits has been that the initial cost of electric school buses is greater than that of diesel buses. HB 2118 offers a solution to this initial-cost problem, so that school districts can unlock many years of cost savings while protecting the health of their students and helping fight the climate crisis. It does so by creating a program to assist school districts in purchasing electric school buses, along with associated costs like charging infrastructure. These beneficial targeted subsidies will cost money, of course, and HB 2118 resolves that issue by placing a modest tax of five cents a gallon on currently untaxed “red dye” diesel. This diesel fuel, intended for off-road uses, is about 50 cents a gallon cheaper than road vehicle diesel fuel, but equally polluting. The initial rationale for not taxing red-dye diesel was as a subsidy to farmers who use it for tractors. However, red-dye diesel is now also widely used to run other heavy equipment, like bulldozers, excavators, all-terrain vehicles, and boats. The EPA estimates that untaxed diesel accounts for as much as 25 percent of all harmful particulate emissions from transportation. Taxing red-dye diesel makes sense. HB 2118’s funding mechanism would raise an estimated $5 to $10 million per year to protect the health of school children, unlock years of savings for school districts, and help address the climate crisis. In keeping with the original rationale for not taxing red-dye diesel, HB 2118 allows a refund to farmers who use it for agricultural purposes. HB 2118 is a carefully tailored bill that will protect our children, help school districts save money, and help solve the climate crisis. It deserves your enthusiastic support, and I respectfully urge you to support HB 2118. Thank you, John Clewett

My name is Emily Little and I am mother and a nurse. I support HB2118, the Electric Vehicle Grant Fund Bill, patroned by Del. Mark Keam. I am so excited to see a bill that would really make electrification of our school buses reality. This has been an idea in so many mother's minds and this could make it a reality. Our children and the bus drivers who drive them for so little pay deserve to have clean running buses so that they are not exposed to diesel fumes. This will help fund buses that are healthier and safer for our children while putting a price on some of the worse pollution we have in this state--from diesel fuel. HB 2118 also prioritizes communities that are most impacted by diesel pollution—communities with the highest asthma rates and lowest air quality. Thank you for thinking of our children’s health first. And it meets the deadline we must meet to address the climate crisis. It aims to fully convert Virginia’s school bus fleet by 2031. It prioritizes our children’s future. Thank you for your consideration.

I support HB2118, the Electric Vehicle Grant Fund Bill, patroned by Del. Mark Keam, and the creation of a grant program that any school system in Virginia can apply for to help fund the purchase of electric school buses plus the necessary charging infrastructure and training. Funding to be provided by a tax on dyed diesel that accounts for 25% transportation particulate matter pollution in Virginia. HB 2118 also prioritizes communities that are most impacted by diesel pollution—communities with the highest asthma rates and lowest air quality. Our children’s health must come before 'cost-cutting' mentality in decision making. This bill would also aid Virginia in meeting the timeframe of the best climate science to address our climate crisis by fully convert Virginia’s school bus fleet by 2031. This kind of forward thinking policy cannot be delayed if we hope to avert a complete breakdown of climate stability in the next few decades.

As a mother of two young children, I support HB2118, the Electric Vehicle Grant Fund Bill, patroned by Del. Mark Keam. This bill creates a grant program that any school system in Virginia can apply for to help fund the purchase of electric school buses plus the necessary charging infrastructure and training. Diesel fumes are harmful and these fumes can be highly concentrated inside diesel school buses, putting children's health at significant risk. Knowing that young children sit inside these buses up to two hours per day, breathing in these concentrated fumes on a daily basis, is highly distressing. We must take action to transition away from diesel buses. In addition to protecting children's health, converting diesel school buses to electric would also significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the state. The bills aims to fully convert Virginia's school bus fleet by 2031, a deadline needed to address the climate crisis and protect our children's future. HB2118 prioritizes children's health and their future, and as a mom I believe it is of the utmost importance to support and pass this bill. Thank you for your consideration.

As a mother of a 1.5 year old, and also as a Mechanical Engineer working in building energy efficiency, I am very concerned with indoor air quality and it’s relations to health, particularly in children. The air quality inside a diesel school bus has been shown to be many times worse for exposure to air pollutants. I also feel strongly that a transition to an electric transportation fleet is a huge step towards a cleaner energy mix and will have many climate benefits that will give my son a better future. The creation of this fund is a great step for our state and prioritizes communities with the worst air quality and oldest school buses. Transitioning the states school buses with priority to these communities is a smart way to get electric school buses on the roads.