THE GASOLINE DICHOTOMY

HOW THE STATE OF WASHINGTON FEELS

While most people (not me) are concerned about the effects of carbon emission from gasoline, the legislature in the State of Washington just passed a bill  that penalizes drivers of electric vehicles because they are not buying gasoline!

Summary of Senate Bill 5251

“Before accepting an application for a vehicle registration for
an electric vehicle that uses propulsion units powered solely by
electricity, the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent
appointed by the director shall require the applicant to pay a one
hundred dollar fee in addition to any other fees and taxes required by
law. The one hundred dollar fee is due at the time of initial vehicle
registration and annual registration renewal.
(2) The fee under this section is imposed to provide funds to
mitigate the impact of vehicles on state roads and highways, and is
separate and distinct from other vehicle license fees. Proceeds from
the fee must be used for highway purposes, and must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund created in RCW 46.68.070.”

According to the Bellingham Herald, “The drive for the legislation was fueled by the growing unreliability of state gas tax revenues, which are used to maintain and build roads, bridges and ferries. Because owners of all-electric vehicles don’t pay the tax, the bill’s supporters said, Washington must find other ways to bring in transportation money.”

Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, the bill’s primary sponsor, pointed out, “They’re going to drive on our highways, and this is a way for them to pay their fair share.”

How many of “them” are there?  About 1,316 plug-in vehicles were registered in Washington in 2010.  I could not find the number of gasoline-driven cars in the state, but the 2010 United States Census recorded the state's population at 6,724,540.  So even if only 20% of Washingtonians owned cars, that would be about 1,300,000 cars consuming gasoline.  That means the electric car population would represent only 1/10 of one percent of all cars.

How could such a small percentage of cars contribute to the “unreliability of state gas tax revenues?”  

The State of Washington is nicknamed, “The Evergreen State,” because of its immense tree population.  Where are the tree-huggers on this issue?  They obviously don’t sit on the legislature!

HOW THE CITY OF CHICAGO FEELS

 

At about the same time the State of Washington was voting to penalize drivers of electric cars, the City of Chicago launched a new program called the Green Taxi Incremental Cost Allowance Program. The Green Taxi Program will help the taxi industry purchase cost-effective hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, help the City to move closer to reaching carbon emission goals as set out in the Chicago Climate Action Plan.

According to the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection,” The City of Chicago, through the Department of Environment, received a Clean Cities grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The Green Taxi Program will use $1 million in funding from this grant to reimburse up to a set amount of the cost of certain hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles. Hybrids can be reimbursed for $2,000, the maximum allowed by the federal government under this program. CNG or propane powered vehicles can be reimbursed for up to 100% of the implemental cost, which is between $9,000 and $14,000.”

So Chicago wants to increase the number of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles to lower carbon emissions and the State of Washington wants to penalize drivers of electric cars because they are not buying gasoline!  Only in America could a dichotomy like this exist!