General Assembly approves electric vehicle rebate program but leaves it unfunded
Electric car charging station (Source: Virginia Mercury)
By Sarah Vogelsong | February 28, 2021 at 2:36 PM EST - Updated February 28 at 2:36 PM
While Virginiaâs General Assembly has committed to adopt stricter transportation emissions standards by 2025 that will encourage more widespread use of electric vehicles, lawmakersâ final budget includes no funding for a rebate program intended to bring down the vehiclesâ cost for consumers.
âWe were hoping to get money in there now,â said Del. David Reid, D-Loudoun, who served as patron of the bill creating the rebate program and had sought $5 million in funding for its first year. However, he said that from the beginning of the legislative process, he had âbeen trying to set the right expectations that in the current fiscal climate we might be able to get the bill through, but there might not be funding right away.â