The 黑料新闻 Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) launched that offers state residents vouchers towards the purchase of e-bikes from participating stores.
黑料新闻 residents 18 and older can apply and earn up to $500 towards the purchase of an e-bike on . Those living in designated or communities, participate in a state or federal income qualifying program, or earning less than are also eligible to apply for an additional $1,000 voucher.
鈥淚鈥檓 not gonna say it's like Taylor Swift tickets, but I anticipate the demand is gonna be really hot,鈥� , DEEP commissioner, said at a press event Wednesday. By the end of the event she announced that over 1,200 applications for vouchers had already been submitted just hours after the program opened.
Jay Stange, coordinator at Transport Hartford Academy, says that the program providing more voucher eligibility to higher-need communities is one of its biggest strengths.
鈥淚'm really proud of 黑料新闻 for prioritizing the communities that are going to get the most advantage in this eBike program,鈥� Strange said.
Dykes said DEEP has roughly $1.5 million allocated for the voucher program. That would come out to a maximum of 3,000 individual vouchers being available.
黑料新闻 isn鈥檛 the first government to offer this type of incentive; and have similar programs. However, Dykes says 黑料新闻 is the first state to include safety criteria requirements for the e-bikes they are providing.
New Haven mayor Justin Elicker said the program is aimed at helping the environment as well as people living in economically disadvantaged communities.
鈥淭here is no reason you should not be purchasing an e-bike鈥� It is a great way to get around. It is good for the climate, it is good for the environment,鈥� Elicker said.
