Thank you to all the folks who wrote letters to the Cape Gazette regarding Delaware now charging an annual fee for owning an EV or a non-plug-in hybrid. I appreciate all of you. It seems these Delaware drivers are being punished, with the state charging them annually for making a responsible choice. These choices help support a healthier environment for our families. It is clear to me that our Delaware elected officials and legislators do not care about our safety, clean roads or our environment. They appear to care more about money.
I contacted our governor's office and was told that all Delaware drivers must contribute to the cost of road maintenance for the Delaware Department of Transportation, regardless of their car's vehicle fuel type. They stated this is the reason for this annual fee.
I have to ask, are gas-only automobile owners being charged? How about diesel automobiles and trucks, are they being charged more? If not, would this be considered discrimination against EV and non-plug-in hybrid owners? We represent 0.3% of automobile ownership in Delaware, the lowest in the country. I wonder, will the State of Delaware still utilize the state electric buses?
It is a fact that EV and non-plug-in hybrids reduce the impact of fossil fuel use.
It is a fact that gas and diesel vehicles increase air pollution, and even more so if they are stuck in traffic on our roads. We should all be able to agree we have a lot of traffic in Sussex County. All the overdevelopment that causes increased traffic, increased population density, more energy consumption and all the trees being removed increases air pollution as well. Trash all over our roads can release harmful chemicals, which can contaminate the air, pollute our waterways, and pose a risk to human health and our environment. Money over health should never be the answer.
Delaware is finally putting a camera on the Nassau Bridge to address the speeding. Maybe the money generated from all of the speeding violations could be slated to help DelDOT with its increased cost for road maintenance.
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