DEQ: Court tax ruling clears way for electric-car rebates

The Oregon Supreme Court published a ruling Thursday allowing the use of the car-dealer “privilege tax” to fund the Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program, the Department of Environmental Quality said Friday.

The Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program is designed to provide incentives for more Oregonians to purchase or lease electric vehicles. The rebates are funded by a tax imposed on car dealers for the privilege of selling motor vehicles.

“The Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program will help improve public health by reducing vehicle emissions. DEQ has an opportunity to provide an incentive for Oregonians to contribute to a more sustainable future,” DEQ Air Administrator Ali Mirzakhalili said.

DEQ will be moving to implement the rebate program as quickly as possible and will be providing updates as we prepare and launch the full rebate application.

Additional information about the rebate program can be found at: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/aq/programs/Pages/ZEV-Rebate.aspx

View the court opinion at: https://cdm17027.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17027coll3/id/6822/rec/1