As the new home of MASSPIRG's environmental work, Environment Massachusetts can be contacted regarding this news release.
BOSTON
–With the action today of the Massachusetts State Senate, our state
comes closer to having cleaner, more fuel efficient cars on our roads.
The Alternative Fuels bill, sponsored by Senate President Robert
Travaglini, Senator Bruce Tarr and Senator Steven Baddour, creates an
incentive program for consumers, businesses and municipalities to
purchase hybrid vehicles or alternative fuel vehicles. Among other
benefits, consumers would receive up to a $1,000 sales tax exemption in
addition to a $2,000 tax deduction when purchasing one of these cleaner
cars.
“With
gas at more than three dollars a gallon, this bill is exactly the kind
of tune-up Massachusetts needs,” said Brooke McConnell, Transportation
Advocate for the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group
(MASSPIRG). “Cars and light duty trucks emit approximately forty
percent of the global warming pollution in Massachusetts each year,”
explained McConnell. “By creating an incentive program for the purchase
of hybrid and alternative fuels vehicles, Massachusetts will get
cleaner cars on our roads sooner and save consumers money. This bill
will lead to enormous improvements in our air quality and therefore to
the improved health of the public.”
“MASSPIRG
praises Senate President Travaglini and Senators Tarr and Baddour for
passing this important legislation and we applaud the Senate for their
swift movement on the bill and look forward to its adoption here in the
Commonwealth,” said McConnell.
