New Study: Eliminating Georgia’s Zero Emission Vehicle Tax Credit Would Cost State More than $250 Million in Future GDP

Atlanta, Ga. – Eliminating Georgia’s Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Tax Credit would harm long-term economic growth in the state. All the while increasing its reliance on the volatile oil market. For this according to a new study released today by Keybridge Research LLC. Therefore, removal of the credit, according to the report, would subtract $252 million from the state’s economy. For that’s over the next 16 years. All the while making consumers more vulnerable to fluctuating gasoline prices.

Report Findings

The report’s findings were also announced in a press conference. One that was also hosted by Georgia State Representative Ben Harbin (R-Evans) and Keybridge Research President and former Chief Economist on the President’s Council of Economic Advisors. For Dr. Robert Weshe report’s analysis most importantly finds that, Georgia consumers would spend an additional $188 million over the next five years. That’s just on vehicle fuel and maintenance.

That figure would also rise to $922 million over the next sixteen years. Moreover and with fewer electric vehicles on Georgia roads. So the state would be more vulnerable to the negative effects of high and volatile global oil prices. Thereby eliminating an important insurance policy for businesses and consumers.

ZEV Credit

First of all, this important study shows that the ZEV credit is a smart investment. Especially for the state of Georgia. That’s as well as Georgian consumers and businesses. This was said by Robbie Diamond. Robbie is the President and CEO of Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE).

Added Diamond: “The core energy security vulnerability confronting the United States today is our near-total reliance on oil to power transportation. More than 92 percent of the energy that powers our cars, trucks, ships and aircraft comes from petroleum fuels. Georgia’s Zero Emissions Vehicle Tax Credit is a critical policy aimed at breaking that dependence—and the vehicles sales data shows that it is beginning to work. Now is not the time to scale back support for this critical technology.”

The Keybridge study finds that if the Georgia ZEV tax credit were eliminated, there would be roughly 44,000 fewer EVs on Georgia roads by 2019, leaving the state’s consumers more vulnerable to high and volatile oil prices.

Finally, the study, “Impact of Elimination of the Electric Vehicle Tax Credit on the Georgia State Economy” was commissioned by Securing America’s Future Energy.  All in partnership with the Electrification Coalition.

Source: Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) and the Electrification Coalition