Washington state is taking quick action to meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

As part of it, last year the state spent $45 million dollars to help lower income people buy or lease electric vehicles. 

To do this, they lowered the barrier for getting a rebate – all you needed to do was self-report your income or say you were enrolled in an assistance program, and the dealer would discount thousands of dollars from the price. 

But a new investigation from Cascade PBS has found that some of the money didn’t go towards the people it was intended for.

Guest:

Elizabeth Whitman, freelance journalist

Relevant Links:

Cascade PBS: WA spent $45M to boost electric vehicle use — with mixed results

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Washington state is taking quick action to meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
As part of it, last year the state spent $45 million dollars to help lower income people buy or lease electric vehicles.&nbsp;
To do this, they lowered the barrier for getting a rebate &ndash; all you needed to do was self-report your income or say you were enrolled in an assistance program, and the dealer would discount thousands of dollars from the price.&nbsp;
But a new investigation from Cascade PBS has found that some of the money didn&rsquo;t go towards the people it was intended for.
Guest:
Elizabeth Whitman, freelance journalist
Relevant Links:
Cascade PBS: <a href="https://www.cascadepbs.org/investigations/2025/06/wa-spent-45m-to-boost-electric-vehicle-use-with-mixed-results/">WA spent $45M to boost electric vehicle use &mdash; with mixed results</a>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Washington state is taking quick action to meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  As part of it, last year the state spent $45 million dollars to help lower income people buy or lease electric vehicles. 

Advertisement