Starting next month, consumers will be able to access $17 million in funding that will help get them into clean energy vehicles and support the green-tech sector in British Columbia as part of the 'Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan', Environment Minister Terry Lake and Energy and Energy and Mines Minister Rich Coleman announced.

Four Programs and Many Choices:

• The point-of-sale incentive program begins Dec. 1 and will provide up to $5,000 off the sticker price for qualifying new battery electric, fuel cell electric, plug-in hybrid electric and compressed natural gas vehicles.
• With over $6 million in provincial funding for new charging stations and upgrades to hydrogen fuelling stations at existing facilities, owners of clean energy vehicles will have more charging and fuelling options.
• On Dec. 1, homeowners who want to install dedicated charging stations in their homes for their clean energy vehicles will get a rebate of up to $500 per qualifying station. To access these rebates and learn more, log on to LiveSmartBC at: http://www.livesmartbc.ca/
• As of today, $2.5-million in BC SCRAP-IT Society funding will expand the already successful non-profit group's initiative to remove high-polluting vehicles from B.C. roads. These incentives are accessed via the BC SCRAP-IT website at: http://www.scrapit.ca/

Quotes:

Blair Qualey, CEO, New Car Dealers Association of B.C. -

"The point-of-sale rebate program is key to attracting new clean energy vehicles to the B.C. market. Manufacturers are eager to launch their new electric, plug-in hybrid electric and fuel cell cars in markets that demonstrate both high demand and with infrastructure in place - B.C. is now one of those markets."

Dennis Rogoza, CEO of the BC Scrap-It Society -

"We're excited about moving more power polluters off of B.C. roads. It's clear with programs like these, British Columbia is committed to providing greener options for a cleaner future. These older vehicles scrapped by our program represent emissions that are up to 60 times greater than that of newer vehicles."

Quick Facts:

• BC SCRAP-IT Society has removed over 30,000 vehicles from B.C. roads, resulting in a reduction of over 200,000 tonnes of GHGs.
• Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and pure battery-powered electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions.
• Battery-powered electric vehicles should cost as little as $300 per year in electricity bills compared to upwards of $1,500 per year to fuel a gas-powered car.
• In March 2011, Mercedes-Benz Canada announced plans to build a new facility in Burnaby to manufacture fuel cell stacks for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.

British Columbia was the first major region in North America to operate a carbon-neutral public sector. These investments in infrastructure, point-of-sale incentives, rebates and funding mean that British Columbians inspired by B.C.'s carbon-neutral achievements can choose from an array of greener transportation options. These programs will foster growth in the green economy, which will translate into new jobs and more business opportunities.

Learn More:

• For more information - including which vehicles qualify under the new program go to: http://www.livesmartbc.ca/incentives/transportation/
• BC SCRAP-IT Society: www.scrapit.ca
• New Car Dealers Association of B.C. www.newcardealers.ca
• Ministry of Environment: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/ministries/environment-1/
• Ministry of Energy Mines: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/ministries/energy-and-mines/

A backgrounder follows.

Contacts:

Karen Johnston
Communications
Ministry of Environment
250 387-9973

Sandra Steilo
Media Relations
Ministry of Energy and Mines
250 952-0617

BACKGROUNDER

B.C. green programs for clean energy transportation

The $17 million supports a variety of options for consumers to go green as they drive into B.C.'s clean energy economy. Scrap your old, pre-1996 vehicle and replace it with a new clean energy vehicle, transit pass or newer car.

The programs include:

• Point-of-sale incentives of between $2,500 and $5,000 on eligible clean energy vehicles including the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi iMiEV, Tesla Roadster, Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Volt, light-duty natural gas vehicles, light-duty hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and other qualifying vehicles bought or leased on or after Dec. 1, 2011.
• Rebates of up to $500 per unit for residential electric charging stations that meet identified eligibility requirements for any charging equipment purchased on or after Dec. 1.
• BC Scrap-It funding of approximately $2.5 million will mean the expansion of this already successful program and the removal of more high-polluting vehicles from the road. This program will take effect on Nov. 5.
• $6.5 million in infrastructure funding for electric vehicle charging points and upgrading existing hydrogen fuelling stations.

The funding provided is expected to:

• Provide B.C. consumers with more affordable clean energy transportation options.
• As part of the BC Jobs Plan, continue to champion B.C.'s leadership in advancing emerging clean energy vehicle technology, including made-in-B.C. hydrogen fuelling and grid-integrated efficient charging infrastructure.
• Increase investment and employment in B.C.-based businesses that sell new cars, develop clean vehicle technologies, build the infrastructure and provide the many transportation options for consumers.
• Encourage car manufacturers to choose British Columbia when developing and deploying new clean energy technology.

B.C.'s Green Tech Sector

• B.C. is a global leader in the hydrogen and fuel cell transportation sector, which includes:
• BC Transit's 20 hydrogen fuel cell buses.
• The Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation that employs 200 people.
• Mercedes-Benz' planned fuel cell manufacturing facility and the HTEC North Vancouver Hydrogen Liquefaction project that will supply made-in-B.C. clean hydrogen throughout the Pacific Northwest.
• B.C. has strong research, testing and development expertise in clean transportation, with organizations such as Powertech Labs, BCIT, UVic and UBC globally recognized in this sector.
• With burgeoning technology in electric vehicle components and integration, including Delta Q Technologies, Rapid Electric Vehicles and Azure Dynamics, the future is bright for green technology throughout the province.
• The green, clean economy is estimated to be worth almost $5.2 trillion dollars globally. Growth suggests the sector to grow between $20.1 and $27.4 billion in 2020.

Currently, there are about 166,000 full-time clean tech jobs in B.C. and the green labour force growth is projected to be 1.5 per cent, which indicates that B.C. could face a worker shortage of 60,000 by 2020.

These programs are designed to accelerate the adoption of clean energy vehicles. These qualifying vehicles can be powered by natural gas, hydrogen or electricity as their primary source of fuel.

Contacts:

Karen Johnston
Communications
Ministry of Environment
250 387-9973

Sandra Steilo
Media Relations
Ministry of Energy and Mines
250 952-0617