PASADENA, CA--(Marketwire - March 23, 2010) - CALSTART, the nation's leading clean transportation consortium, today praised a deal between the Governor and the State's legislative leaders to exempt manufacturing equipment to produce clean energy and technology products, vehicles, and fuels from the state sales tax.
Today, California is one of only three states that tax capital equipment used to manufacture other products. Tomorrow, when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signs it into law, the new legislation (SB-71) will exempt clean tech manufacturing equipment from the state sales tax.
Governor Schwarzenegger outlined the need for such legislation in his state-of-the state speech and was then able to negotiate a bi-partisan deal successfully with State Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and newly elected Assembly Speaker John Perez. CALSTART participated in press events with the Governor and helped organize support for the legislation from several California clean transportation technology companies.
"With the passage of this legislation, California's leaders will have removed a major barrier to the growth of the state's clean energy industry. This legislation will stimulate the creation of thousands of jobs in California," said John Boesel, CALSTART's President and CEO, a statewide organization that serves as a catalyst for the clean transportation technology sector.
"Clean energy and transportation are priorities that are important to both Republicans and Democrats. We appreciate the cooperative, bipartisan effort made by Governor Schwarzenegger, President pro Tem Steinberg, and Speaker Perez to reach agreement on this policy. This is definitely a policy that will be good for the environment and the economy," said Boesel.
California has long been a national and global leader in terms of policies that have resulted in cleaner fuels and vehicles that benefit the environment and public health. However, the sales tax on manufacturing equipment often served as a significant disincentive for firms to actually produce products in-state. Unlike other factors such as obtaining permits and work rules, the sales tax on manufacturing equipment was a clear and easy-to-quantify hindrance for doing business in California.
"California has taken the right policy steps to clean up cars, trucks, and buses. This legislation is the right step to give California a fighting chance at making sure the next generation of clean vehicles and fuels are built in the state," said Boesel.
About CALSTART
CALSTART is a non-profit organization focused on the growth of the clean transportation technology industry. CALSTART has about 120 member companies representing a broad array of clean vehicles, fuels, and technologies. CALSTART provides services and consulting help to spur advanced transportation technologies, fuels, systems and the companies that make them. With its headquarters in Pasadena, CALSTART has offices in Richmond, California and Denver, Colorado. For more information visit: www.calstart.org
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Mary Kathryn Campbell at (626) 744-5602 or