WASHINGTON – “Fore!”
The federal government is preparing to spend millions to purchase a fleet of small electric vehicles that critics compare to golf carts.
The $838 billion economic stimulus bill that passed the Senate yesterday contains $300 million for the government to purchase a fleet of “green” cars.
But the money won’t just go to buy fuel-efficient hybrids such as the Ford Escape or Chevy Volt.
The cash also can be used to purchase “neighborhood electric vehicles.”
The NEVs, which resemble streamlined golf carts, scoot at up to 25 mph, operate on battery power and can be plugged into 110-volt outlets for charging.
They are sometimes used at hospitals, college campuses and retirement communities, and can cost around $8,000 each. They don’t produce carbon emissions.
The House-passed version of the stimulus provides even more money for federal car purchases – $600 million. The pot of money also specifically includes the NEVs.
There’s also a tax subsidy in the bill to juice up vehicle sales – a potential a job-killer for golf caddies.
The provision gives a 10 percent tax credit off the price of specified “low-speed” vehicles costing up to $40,000, for a total cost of $3 million.
The bill does not appear to cap the total number of credits that a person or business could take.
“Americans who aren’t lucky enough to get a piece of the stimulus pie will at least be able to rest comfortably at night knowing that the guy who just fired them is gonna get a tax break on his new golf cart,” fumed one Senate GOP aide.
Although the origins of the provision are unclear, it could be a boon to North Dakota-based NEV manufacturer Global Electric Motorcars, a division of Chrysler.
Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) posted a release on his official Web site last year announcing a Global vehicle the feds purchased for use on the Capitol grounds.
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, which produced the spending part of the stimulus.
“They’re extremely versatile and efficient. We do enjoy that people can use them and benefit from them, especially in this era of eco-friendly and reducing our dependence on foreign oil,” said Joan Michelson, a Global spokeswoman.
The feds already use the vehicles at Army bases, parks, and other areas.
But neither Capitol Hill aides nor the Energy Department was able to say specifically what the carts would be used for, nor does the stimulus bill.