Thursday, Sept. 30, 4-5 p.m.
via Zoom Free, open to all Energy New England Drives Electric Learn about new EV choices available this year and get your questions answered by EV experts at this National Drive Electric Week virtual event. REGISTER _________________________________________________________________________________ Thursday, Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m. via Zoom Free, open to all EVs, PHEVs, Hybrids: Car Options for Today A Wellesley resident and EV owner will share her firsthand perspective on EVs and answer attendee questions at this Sustainable Wellesley virtual event. REGISTER _________________________________________________________________________________ Sat. Oct. 2, 1-4 p.m. Free, open to all Wellesley EV Showcase (part of Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend) View different makes and models of EVs in-person and chat with Wellesley residents about their experiences owning and driving EVs. This event takes place at the Cameron Street parking lot in Wellesley. Come see and talk to owners of Chevy Volt, Chevy Bolt, Ford Mustang, Ford Fusion, Mini Cooper, Mini Countryman, Nissan Leaf, Tesla S, Tesla Y, Tesla 3, Toyota Prius, Volkswagen ID4, Chrysler Pacifica, and more! REGISTER Considering buying an electric vehicle (EV), or just want to better understand what it’s like to own and drive one?
Transportation accounts for 43% of Wellesley’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The Town of Wellesley has set an ambitious climate goal of achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2050 and interim goals of a 50% reduction by 2030 and 75% reduction by 2040. Driving an EV is one way you can reduce your environmental impact and help our community reach these goals. Learn more about electric vehicles at three upcoming events to help you become an informed buyer: Thursday September 30, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Energy New England Drives Electric Learn about new EV choices available this year and get your questions answered by EV experts at this National Drive Electric Week virtual event. Sign-up here. Thursday September 30, 7:30 p.m. EVs, PHEVs, Hybrids: Car Options for Today Sharon Kirby, a Wellesley resident and EV owner, will share her firsthand perspective on EVs and answer attendee questions at this Sustainable Wellesley virtual event. Sign-up here. Saturday October 2, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Wellesley EV Showcase (part of Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend) View different makes and models of EVs in-person and chat with Wellesley residents about their experiences owning and driving EVs. This event takes place at the Cameron Street parking lot in Wellesley. Sign-up here. EVs are fun to drive and more affordable than ever, thanks to a $7,500 federal tax credit, a $2,500 Massachusetts state rebate, and a Green Energy Consumer Alliance Drive Green discount. And the savings continue, because an EV owner can save up to $1,000 per year on fuel and maintenance costs when compared to a traditional gas powered vehicle. “We can all help combat climate change by choosing an EV the next time we buy or lease a new or used car," said Dr. Marybeth Martello, Wellesley’s Sustainability Director. "The U.S., along with more than 140 other nations, the state of Massachusetts, and Wellesley are actively working to curtail greenhouse gas emissions. We all can make a difference.” ABOUT These EV events and information are offered at no cost to all residents through a partnership between: Sustainable Wellesley, an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that engages residents, businesses and the town of Wellesley to take sustainable actions to protect our climate; reduce pollution of air, land and water; preserve biodiversity; minimize waste; and ensure environmental justice. The Wellesley Climate Action Committee which engages our community and establishes goals, actions, metrics, and implementation blueprints for building resilience and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Wellesley Drives Electric, a program offered by the Municipal Light Plant to inform Wellesley residents about the benefits of driving an electric car and the electric utility bill savings available by charging an EV at home overnight. Contact Terry Connolly, Wellesley Municipal Light Plant for more detail at 781-489-7766 or at tconnolly@wellesleyma.gov. The Federal Tax Credit, MA State Rebate, and Drive Green Dealer Discounts Can Lower the Purchase Price of an Electric Vehicle
The town of Wellesley is striving to achieve a 50 percent, community-wide reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. Transportation currently accounts for 43 percent of Wellesley’s greenhouse gas emissions. Electric vehicles (EVs) are an important part of Wellesley’s emissions reduction strategy along with increased biking, walking, and use of public transit. For those considering buying a new EV, current federal tax credit, state rebate, and Green Energy Consumer Alliance Drive Green programs offer significant savings. The Drive Green program, for example, offers negotiated dealer discounts on EVs from a range of makers, including Chevrolet, Mitsubishi, and Nissan, making it easy to compare prices and find a dealership with knowledgeable sales staff. Special offers on pre-owned EV and hybrid vehicles are also available. Tesla EVs are not part of the Drive Green program. “Transportation, along with buildings, is a leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Wellesley,” said Dr. Marybeth Martello, Wellesley’s Sustainability Director. “Every one of us can help combat climate change by replacing older, gas-powered vehicles with EVs. EV purchase incentives make it more cost-effective for each of us to do our part.” As one example, a new Hyundai Kona Electric, an EV with a battery range of 258 miles, is now available for just $24,497. Normally retailing for $38,575, this EV is available now for $14,078 less, thanks to a Green Energy Consumer Alliance Drive Green discount, a federal tax credit, and the state of Massachusetts MOR-EV rebate: $38,575 Retail price ($4,078) Drive green dealer discount ($2,500) MA state rebate ($7,500) Federal tax credit $24,497 Final effective price To learn about the Green Energy Consumer Alliance, click here. To learn more about Wellesley’s Climate Action Plan, click here. To comment or ask a question, email climateaction@wellesleyma.gov. There are electric car charging stations everywhere you want to go this summer.
Its possible to relax at the beach, enjoy parks, visit family and friends all without using a drop of fuel! Thinking of buying an electric vehicle? Use Plugshare or ChargePoint to find convenient places to charge your car. We would love to hear about your recent EV purchase and your experiences. Please share them at info@sustainablewellesley.com. Know that driving less and driving electric are impactful ways you can help Wellesley, Mass., and the federal government reach greenhouse gas reduction goals and build resiliency. This month you can get up to $8,500 off of the Nissan LEAF Plus (220 mile range) through the Green Energy Consumer Alliance’s Drive Green discount program. Add in the $7,500 federal tax credit and the $2500 Massachusetts state tax credit too!
This is one example, but there are many options to choose from. Learn which electric car model best fit your lifestyle and needs. Consider what works better for you depending on the miles typically driven per day, types of long trips you plan to take in your vehicle, and how much passenger and cargo space you need. Get more information how EV's work, which type of EV is right for you, and the how you can save money by making the switch to electric by clicking here or here. In June, you can get up to $8,500 off of the Nissan LEAF Plus - yes the one with a 220 mile range - plus the $7,500 tax credit.
Read about new and pre-owned electric and hybrid vehicle deals from Drive Green here. Their site makes it easy to view available electric car models, compare prices, and find a dealership with knowledgeable sales staff. Not sure about making the switch to electric? Watch this 1 minute video. If you missed the Sustainable Wellesley/Wellesley Books discussion with author Paul Greenberg about his inspiring, accessible book, the Climate Diet last week, you can watch it here.
What a treat for our group to hear directly from the author! "Naked food" and "shipped vs. flown" were just a few of the inspirational stories he shared on ways we can address our own household carbon footprints. As Paul says, "everyone can and should do something," and this book offers a wide array of things you can do. He calls this book a "peace offering," for adults and teens/millennials that shares ideas that are not only good for the planet, but good for your health and wallet too. Take some time to read The Climate Diet this summer. Its short, informative and available at the library and the local book store! Then share the book; we all have something to learn. New, Updated Gas Leaks Map shows Wellesley still has 250 unrepaired pipeline leaks, emitting a whooping 91 MT of methane (natural gas).
This puts Wellesley in the state’s top 11 emitters of methane, with the other 10 being much larger cities & towns: Worcester, Weymouth, Quincy, Newton, Medford, Lynn, Dorchester, Brookline, Arlington and Boston. Methane has more than 80 times the climate warming power of carbon dioxide during the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere. Leaky, corroded pipes run all over under our town and the entire state. The estimated cost to repair all if these pipes is enormous, at the ratepayers’ expense. Despite the fact that 70 pipe lines have been repaired in Wellesley so far, it seems even more leaks have sprung anew. It’s time to stop using “natural “ gas for our heating and cooking. Gas is unhealthy, dangerous, costly (we are paying for all those leaks!), and bad for the environment. Consider going electric! Email us to learn more! Give input on Wellesley's Sustainable Mobility Plan (SMP).
As part of the SMP, the Town has launched a series of short surveys to gather more information on a range of mobility topics. Each survey takes five minutes or less to complete. Please respond to as many or few that apply to your travel and spread the word to friends and family. The most recent survey asks about school travel and is designed for either students or parents. Your input is important as we seek ways to make low impact travel modes (walking, biking, buses) safer and more attractive. In addition to the school survey, we encourage you to take any previous surveys that apply to how you travel, get deliveries, and plan for future travel. The first five of 10 surveys are available at this link under the “Wellesley Wheelhouse” Tab. So far the topics focus on: Survey 1- Work from Home trends Survey 2 - Biking and E-bicycles Survey 3 - Use of Ridehailing Services (e.g. Uber and Lyft) Survey 4 - Use of E-commerce Survey 5 - School Travel In the future watch for surveys on autonomous vehicles, bikability, use of food delivery services, microtransit, and electric vehicles. If you have questions, please email smp@wellesleyma.gov. Thank you for your help with this community project! |
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