Electric vehicle rebate among staff proposals to speed up Toronto’s target to become a carbon neutral city
Toronto’s Mayor and City Council have been asked to consider ways to accelerate a target to become a carbon neutral city. One idea: a rebate program for electric vehicles that would generate hundreds of thousands of extra Ontario-style rebate dollars for residents who buy electric cars. Another idea: the creation of more affordable public transport such as light rail and subway to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, and to make downtown residents more environmentally aware. Also: a feasibility study for converting the old Toronto Eaton Centre Building to a solar energy park.
The rebates for electric cars will cost residents about $800 a year. The rebate program is being proposed as a way of addressing pollution caused by electric vehicles. The program could allow electric cars to be tax-advantaged at a much higher level on top of their normal car taxes.
The rebate program is being proposed by the Toronto Green Caucus.
In an e-mailed statement to Streetsblog Toronto, Councillor Gord Perks says the rebates would “make Toronto a leading city in the world when it comes to building environmentally friendly products, and as a city we should be proud of that.”
He says the cost of electric vehicles and infrastructure to support them are estimated at about $3 billion if they are sold in Toronto.
Council will discuss the rebate program in mid-November.
On the other hand, there have been suggestions that the rebate program could generate revenue for cities. Councillor Ana Bailao told the Globe and Mail on Friday (10/27) that Toronto should consider converting the old Eaton Centre building to a solar energy power plant.
The City is considering a draft plan for converting the Eaton Centre building to a solar energy park. The project would generate electricity for Toronto when the sun shines on the solar cells on the roof. If it works, the City would obtain about 20 per cent of the value of the solar power.
Eaton Centre is home to one of Toronto’s most iconic buildings and one of the city’s most prominent and busiest shopping and entertainment facilities.
Toronto is currently home to more than 13 million people.
Toronto has been working on plans to become a more environmentally friendly city. The city has launched a new website with the goal of becoming a carbon neutral city.
On Monday, Toronto announced it aims to become a carbon neutral city by 2050.