Obama touts $1bn green car tax break plan


President Barack Obama announced the latest in a series of measures designed to boost America’s green car sector, unveiling plans for $1bn in tax credits to support the roll out of the infrastructure required to support low carbon vehicles.

Speaking at a Daimler truck plant in North Carolina as part of his recent tour of swing states, Obama again highlighted the administration’s commitment to developing a greener energy and transport strategy.

“We can’t just keep on relying on the old ways of doing business,” he said. “We can’t just rely on fossil fuels from the last century. We’ve got to continually develop new sources of energy.”

He also slammed pledges from Republican presidential hopefuls that they would hold down rising fuel prices.

“The next time you hear some politician trotting out some three-point plan for $2 gas, you let them know that we know better,” he said at the plant.

“Tell them we are tired of hearing phony, election-year promises that never come about, that what we need is a serious, sustained, all-of-the-above strategy for American-made energy, American-made efficiency, American innovation, American fuel-efficient trucks, American fuel-efficient cars.”

Specifically, Obama unveiled new plans for $1bn of tax credits that would help 15 cities deploy electric car charging points and biofuel pumps.

He also called on Congress to increase the $7,500 per vehicle tax credit available to those purchasing alternative fuel vehicles to $10,000.

Both proposals are likely to face opposition from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, but they represent the latest in a series of moves from the Obama administration to position energy and low carbon policy as a key election year battleground.

He also used yesterday’s event to again call on Congress to scrap multi-billion dollar subsidies for the oil industry.

“Eliminate these subsidies right away,” he said, arguing that Republicans “can stand up for the oil companies or they can stand up for the American people and this new energy future.”

The latest speech came just days after Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that the Energy Department had expanded its National Clean Fleets Partnership with the addition of Best Buy, Johnson Controls, Pacific Gas and Electric, and Veolia.Under the scheme the companies will receive advice from the department on how to

accelerate the roll out of alternative fuel vehicles, as well as introductions to suppliers operating in their area who can offer fuel efficient and low emission fleet options.

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