Go Green, Get Paid in California

If you are a Californian driving or holding onto an ancient, high-polluting vehicle, you could get paid a nice chunk of cash to finally get rid of the thing. State regulators have expanded an incentives program today that offers Californians up to $4,000 if they turn in their old cars and purchase cleaner vehicles.

Although this program seems similar to the “cash for clunkers” law that Obama signed earlier this week, it differs in that California is specifically targeting cars that are responsible for producing excessive amounts of smog.

According to the regulators responsible for the program, over 300,000 Californians own cars that fit the description and will be contacted by the state in order to make them aware of the program. The money would be given in the form of vouchers that can be redeemed at used and new dealerships for cars made in the last four years.

Californians will not be able to receive incentive money from both the federal program and the state program, a decision that was hotly contested by California auto dealers. However, the consensus was that “double dipping” would actually get less high-polluting cars off the road.

Image: Flickr