Rebate can help Florence County auto buyers go green

Staley Collins, sales manager for King Cadillac Buick Pontiac GMC, poses for a portrait in the front seat of a GMC Yukon Hybrid on Thursday at the West Evans Street dealership in Florence. Florence County began offering a $500 rebate March 2 to anyone who purchases a hybrid vehicle, such as the GMC Yukon. Based on EPA estimates, the regular gasoline version of the Yukon gets 15 miles per gallon in the city and 21 mpg on the highway, while the Hybrid version gets 21 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

By: SCNow Staff | SCNow
Published: March 13, 2009

Residents of Florence County can now go green at a reduced rate, thanks to a new hybrid vehicle rebate.

The rebate is available to county residents who purchase and register a new hybrid vehicle within the county after March 2. The rebate is provided on a first come, first-served basis.

Scott Park, a planning services officer with the Florence County Planning Office, said the offer is intended to help reduce emissions within the city.

“It actually started last year with our air quality monitoring of ozone,” he said. “Our last ozone season was very close to a new EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) standard that was put into place.”

There is $20,000 in rebate money available in $500 increments per household.

Park said the rebate has not garnered much response yet, but he expects that to change as the economy stabilizes a bit more.

“I have found that some people are interested now that there is a rebate program,” Park said.

He said the program applies to any gasoline/electric hybrid vehicle, electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid vehicle.

“Hybrid vehicles will emit less pollutants,” he said. “It’s any kind of hybrid, so anything from a Honda to a Cadillac.”

Staley Collins, sales manager at King Cadillac Buick Pontiac GMC in Florence, said the rebate is slowly becoming known to people looking to purchase vehicles in the Pee Dee.

“I think it’s a very progressive county,” he said. “It’s go green. It’s a very good thing that they’re doing.”

Collins said he doesn’t think gasoline mileage is the only reason to drive a hybrid vehicle in Florence.

“You’re emissions, for one thing, are cleaner,” he said. “You’ve got to look at all things. If you want to go green, then go green, but if you don’t, then don’t.”

Park said he is encouraging everyone in the county to get out and take advantage of the rebate.

“Capitalize on it,” he said. “It’s unusual for a county government to give away money. It’s a neat program, and it shows they are really serious about cleaning up air quality.”

For details about the hybrid rebate program, contact the Florence County Planning Office at (843) 676-8600 or find the application online at www.florenceco.org/planning.

FAST FACTS

Florence County is offering residents a rebate when they purchase and register a hybrid vehicle in the county after March 2. There is $20,000 of rebate money available in $500 increments per household.

The rebate is given on a first come, first-served basis.