The goals set out by the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) are very aggressive: reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. Easy to say, but more complicated to do. Since the Commonwealth’s transportation sector accounts for roughly one-third of the GHGs emitted in Massachusetts, the deployment of more electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles is an important step toward achieving this ambitious goal and a priority for the Patrick Administration.

In late October, Governor Patrick signed a groundbreaking agreement with seven other states to put at least 3.3 million zero-emission vehicles on the roads in their states within a dozen years. Massachusetts’ share of that effort is approximately 300,000 vehicles on our roadways by 2025.

One of the key initiatives that will help get us there is the Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (or MassEVIP).

MassEVIP is operated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) utilizing $2.5 million provided by the state’s Inspection and Maintenance trust account. This funding will encourage increased deployment of advanced technology vehicles and charging stations in Massachusetts’ municipalities, public colleges and universities, car-share companies and state agencies. It will also improve air quality and public health, enhance energy diversity, reduce the Commonwealth’s reliance on fossil fuels and slash greenhouse gas emissions.

The transportation sector accounts for roughly one-third of the greenhouse gases emitted in Massachusetts, so the deployment of more electric-battery and plug-in hybrid vehicles is a Commonwealth priority.

The first MassEVIP grants, totaling $550,000, were awarded in December during an announcement held at Beverly City Hall. Beverly is one of 20 municipalities across the state to be awarded a grant for the acquisition of 47 electric vehicles (21 plug-in hybrids and 26 electric-battery vehicles) and the installation of 17 duel-head electric charging stations.

Under MassEVIP Phase 2, applicants from municipalities, state agency fleets and public colleges and universities are eligible for up to $5,000 per plug-in hybrid vehicle, $7,500 for battery-electric vehicles, and $10,000 for Level 2 charging stations. For car-share companies, the incentives are $2,500 for plug-in hybrid vehicles, $3,750 for battery-electric vehicles, and $5,000 for Level 2 charging stations. MassDEP is now reviewing all applications submitted and we expect to announce the Phase 2 awardees later this spring.

More information on MassEVIP Phase 2 is available on our website.

Finally, to further expand the Commonwealth’s electric vehicle readiness, Massachusetts is working on a regional level with the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management and the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States’ Transportation and Climate Initiative to support the placement of electric vehicles and charging stations throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states transportation corridor and to enhance the economic benefits associated with these vehicles to the region.

Written By:

Kenneth Kimmell
Commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection

Kenneth L. Kimmell was appointed MassDEP Commissioner in January 2011. Since then, MassDEP has launched a clean energy results program to focus on the permitting and siting of clean energy facilities; completed a top-to-bottom review of all of MassDEP's permit programs and identified over twenty regulatory changes to streamline permitting. MassDEP also commenced an overhaul of its information technology systems to make the agency more efficient, transparent, and accessible to the regulated community and the public. Mr. Kimmell also serves as an officer and member of the Board of Directors of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Emission, Inc., and is active in the nine-member state effort to review and strengthen the nation's first mandatory greenhouse gas emissions cap and trade program. He joined the Patrick Administration in January 2007 as general counsel of EOEEA. In that capacity, he focused on major legislative initiatives, such as the merger of energy and environmental agencies into one secretariat; the Green Communities Act, the Global Warming Solutions Act, and the Oceans Act; state and federal permitting of the Cape Wind project, the nation's first off-shore wind project. Prior to that, Mr. Kimmell was in private practice and focused on environmental and land use law and litigation; and, graduated from Wesleyan University and UCLA School of Law.

Tags: electric vehicle, hybrid, transportation, zero emission vehicle