News release

Going green pays back green for vehicle buyers

37 public agencies in Washington receive rebates on purchases

It pays to be “green.” That is what some of the Department of General Administration’s customers – who are getting rebates – are finding out.

General Administration is sending rebate checks totaling $62,000 to 37 public agencies that bought 138 Toyota Prius and seven Toyota Camry hybrid sedans through a state contract in 2006. The department manages vehicle contracts among hundreds of other agreements for goods and services on behalf of state agencies and local governments.

The City of Seattle will get the biggest rebate – more than $16,000. The city ordered 100 of the model year 2006 Prius, the most by any public agency in Washington.

The contract requires the vehicle dealer, Bud Clary Toyota of Yakima, to disclose to the state the amount of hybrid motor vehicle credits it earned from 2006 government fleet sales.

And the terms of the state contract for Prius and Camry hybrids require the dealer to share a portion of those credits with the state.

General Administration recently received a check from the dealer for more than $62,000, the state’s portion of the tax credit taken by the dealer in 2006. The rebate checks will be sent to customers later this month.

The Prius is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in city driving, while emitting about 90 percent fewer emissions than a comparably-sized, non-hybrid vehicle. The hybrid Camry is estimated to get 40 MPG in city driving and 38 MPG on the highway. Hybrid vehicles generate electricity and do not have to be plugged in. The state contract price for the Prius is $22,182 and $25,682 for the hybrid Camry.

A total of 340 government organizations in Washington bought vehicles through state contracts this year, the most ever. General Administration manages a state purchasing cooperative that has nearly 800 members. Membership is open to state agencies, universities, community colleges, cities, counties and port districts.

General Administration on the Web: http://www.ga.wa.gov/
State vehicle contract: http://www.ga.wa.gov/Vehreq/VehAcq.html