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Go electric and save money with this free program’s guidance on tax credits and incentives.
Navigating the plethora of local, state, and federal incentives available for energy-efficient upgrades and electric vehicle purchases can be daunting. This is where the Community Environmental Council’s (CEC) Electrify Your Life program can help.
Sean McArthur, climate projects manager at the CEC, and his team sort through the rebates to advise participants on their particular situations, free of charge. “The program is really designed to bring electrification to low-to-moderate-income individuals and organizations,” he says.
The program, which started in April 2023, has already helped many community members go electric. In 2023, Electrify Your Life helped 961 residents, businesses, and nonprofits make use of incentives to purchase EVs, EV chargers, solar panels, heat pumps, electric stoves, and other renewable energy upgrades such as weatherization. This work included:
- Supporting 59 EV purchases.
- Assisting in the installation of 15 EV charger stations.
- Facilitating home energy upgrades in 91 homes.
Considering an EV?
Sean was able to help one person get $26,500 off a new Toyota Prius Prime EV, lowering the price to just $4,000 after taxes. The savings inspired Sean himself, who purchased a used Tesla for $9,000. As a renter, he can’t charge at home, but that’s not a deterrent.
“The City of Santa Barbara has a wealth of EV chargers, so public charging is a breeze,” Sean says. “To find chargers in your area, you can use Plugshare, which will list the location on a map, the number of chargers, and the cost. Many vehicles have mapping features built in, taking the guesswork out of when to stop for charging.”
How to Sign Up
The program is free to residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties in English and Spanish. Fill out an interest form at cecsb.org/electrify-your-life.
