On the incentives front, here’s something interesting. I just found this proposed perk in Belmont, California. It seems as a residual of an effort to get a smoking ban in public places there, the idea of cutting local air pollution has turned into an idea to offer a $500 discount on city services (public swimming pools, ice skating classes, rock climbing permits, etc.).
Provided they once again use performance standards (see my blog below for more on that one), on smog forming and global warming emissions (perhaps hybrid vehicles getting at least 30 mpg combined and rating AT-PZEV on the California smog-forming emissions scale, just to throw out an idea), the idea is particularly intriguing to me because, while it may cost the county money in the short run, it uses the hybrid incentive to promote city services which may end up raising more attention and revenues for those services. This is one of the first incentives I’ve seen out there that could really be a winner for the environment, consumers, and the government. Outside-the-box thinking worthy of some thought on the state and federal level, as well as the local.
Posted by: ScottN
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Posted by: squavyAsseddy | August 12, 2007 at 03:31 AM