The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (APCD), in partnership with the Ventura County Community Foundation, is kicking off the Plug-in Electric Vehicle Rebate Program to encourage Ventura County residents to choose lower emission vehicles. This program has been funded at $226,946 from the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Clean Air Fund, which was formed in 1992 from a $1.5 million donation from 3M. This rebate program was approved by the Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board on June 20, 2017.

This rebate program will incentivize the purchase or lease of 140 plug-in Model Year 2017 or newer electric vehicles in the county, with vouchers worth either $1,100 for plug-in hybrids or $2,200 for battery electric vehicles. Electric vehicles qualifying for the Ventura County rebate include all those listed on the California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project website (www.cleanvehiclerebate.org) except hydrogen-powered vehicles and electric motorcycles. The California income limits will not apply to the Ventura County rebate program. Instead, rebates will be limited to those vehicles with a base MSRP of no more than $75,000.

According to Michael Villegas, Ventura County Air Pollution Control Officer, “This program will effectively reduce air pollution emissions and save consumers up to $2,200 in addition to any available state and federal incentives.”

Ventura County residents thinking about purchasing a new vehicle should consider the many advantages of a plug-in electric vehicle in addition to helping to protect our air quality.

Reservations for rebates are required to insure availability. However, the reservations will expire eight weeks from the date of issuance. The rebate process is fully explained, and application forms are available, on the APCD website, http://vcapcd.org/index.htm#EVVoucher or by contacting Stan Cowen at the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District at 805/645-1408 or stan@vcapcd.org.

The Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) is a charitable foundation committed to promoting and enabling philanthropy, building long term capital to benefit Ventura County. Its four primary roles are to be a careful steward of the funds entrusted to its care, a long term partner dedicated to donor intent, an effective grantmaker focusing on the needs of nonprofits and of the community, and a community Leader and convener, focusing on the common good.