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Program to retire old, polluting cars gets infusion of cap and trade money
Replace Your Ride offers incentives for low-income Southern Californians to buy hybrids or electric vehicles.
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Program to retire old, polluting cars gets infusion of cap and trade money
A popular program that helps low-income Southland residents replace their clunkers with newer, more efficient cars is getting a new infusion of cash -- which is good news for the 1,500 people on the waiting list.
This week, state lawmakers hashed out a long-awaited deal to spend $900 million in proceeds from the auction of carbon credits on environmental programs. Replace Your Ride, which is run by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, is getting $14 million, enough to continue the program through 2017. The program started a year ago but was so popular it ran out of money after 800 cars.
How do I know if I'm eligible for Replace Your Ride?
You have to live in the South Coast Air Quality Management District's area: Orange County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
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You also can't make very much money (check here for detailed financial guidelines) -- less than $46,680 as an individual and $62,920 for a household of two.
Your car also has to be gas or diesel powered and exceed emissions standards. It also it has to be drivable, since the goal of this program is to get polluting cars off the road.
What kind of car can I get?
You can either get a hybrid or a gasoline-powered vehicle. If you get a gas-powered vehicle, it has to be eight-years old or newer and meet minimum fuel economy standards, although higher-income people do not qualify for incentives to buy these vehicles.
If you live in certain areas, you may quality for additional incentives to get a hybrid or electric vehicle. These financial incentives are larger and available to a wider range of income levels.
What do I do if I'm already on the waiting list?
SCAQMD says it's beginning to contact people on the waiting list, a process that will accelerate once it receives money from the state. You don't need to do anything, but if you want to get off the list you can call 1-855-483-5107.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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