Tag: federal
FTC hits Microsoft with federal complaint over game division layoffs
Enrollments for federal low-income Internet subsidy program to end
A US government program that subsidizes fees for Internet service for low-income households will stop taking enrollments Thursday and could shut down by April, leaving people who depend on the service for remote employment without a way to pay for broadband access.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is currently used by nearly 23 million Americans, allowing them to save more than $500 million per month on internet bills. It is set to run out of a money in a few months; consumers have until 11:59 p.m. ET on Feb. 7 to be approved and enrolled with a service provider to take part.
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VW and Rivian once again qualify for federal EV tax credits
The narrow list of EVs that qualify for federal tax credits has already grown again. Ars Technicanotes the US government has restored multiple electric rides to the list of vehicles that get at least some credit. The 2023 VW ID.4 (the first US-made model) receives the full $7,500 incentive, as do the upcoming Chevy Blazer EV, Equinox EV and Silverado EV. Rivian R1T and R1S buyers can also get a $3,750 credit provided their configuration slips under the $80,000 cap.
When the Internal Revenue Service outlined the original list, just six EVs could get the full tax credit. This included the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevy Bolt, Chevy Bolt EUV, Ford F-150 Lightning, Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y. Other EVs and plug-in hybrids only received partial credits, such as the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV and Ford Mustang Mach-E.
The Treasury Department outlined stricter requirements for EV tax credits in March. To be eligible for $3,750, a car’s battery components must be 50 percent made or assembled in North America. At least 40 percent of key minerals must come from the US or its free trade partners to earn another $3,750. Batteries must be completely made in North America by 2029 for vehicles to still qualify.
As VW is keen to point out, this makes the ID.4 a better deal. The entry-level Standard trim costs $31,495 after accounting for the tax credit. If you can live with the 209-mile range, it may seem like a bargain compared to even the price-cut Model 3. You’ll more likely want to spring for the ID.4 Pro with 275 miles of range, but that’s still more attainable with a $36,495 sticker after the incentive.
This may also help put Chevy’s wave of upcoming EVs within reach. The Equinox in particular is expected to start around $30,000 — a full credit would price it below many conventional SUVs, let alone electrified versions. As with VW, the discount could spur sales and help the US meet the climate goals that helped prompt the Inflation Reduction Act.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/vw-and-rivian-once-again-qualify-for-federal-ev-tax-credits-170656685.html?src=rss
Starting tomorrow, only six EVs will still qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit
The IRS released a list of electric vehicles that still qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit after strict new guidelines, announced back in March, officially go into effect on April 18th. The list is very short, as just six EVs now qualify under the new terms. The updated rules pertain to EV batteries and cut out China as an approved trading partner, so we knew the vehicle list would shrink, as most electric vehicles use batteries manufactured in China or by Chinese companies.
If you want to get that full tax credit, choose from the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevy Bolt, Chevy Bolt EUV, some Tesla Model 3 versions, some Tesla Model Y versions and Ford F-150 Lightning. Many EVs lose the full credit moving forward, like the Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen ID.4. So check the full list before zeroing in on your next car purchase. $7,500 is nothing to sneeze at.
EVs shunted out of the exclusive full tax-credit club may still qualify for a half credit of $3,750, so long as they meet certain requirements. Three PHEVs also qualify for the half credit and three more qualify for the full tax credit, including models manufactured by Ford, Lincoln, Chrysler and Jeep. These credits are not about excluding hybrid technology and are all about making sure components are sourced properly.
Here’s how that breaks down. Battery components that are 50 percent made or assembled in the USA qualify for the first half of $3,750 and if the company sources at least 40 percent of critical minerals from the US or free trade partners, the second $3,750 kicks in. If a company meets one or the other standard, the vehicle gets a half credit.
While the list winnowing down to just six vehicles makes for a good headline, it should beef up as automobile manufacturers make changes to meet the rules. New EVs that meet the component sourcing standards will get added to the list and other vehicles will get re-added as manufacturers open new factories in the US and other approved countries. New trade deals could also impact the list of approved vehicles as time marches forward. However, these rules grow stricter over time. Batteries must be completely made in North America by 2029 to continue to stay on the IRS’s good side and get that full $7,500 credit.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/starting-tomorrow-only-six-evs-will-still-qualify-for-a-7500-federal-tax-credit-185304414.html?src=rss
Court rules Elon Musk broke federal labor law with 2018 tweet
Elon Musk broke US labor law in 2018 when he tweeted Tesla factory workers would forgo stock options if they chose to unionize, according to a federal appeals court. On Friday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, in a decision spotted by Business Insider, upheld a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling that found Musk made unlawful threats around employee compensation.
In May 2018, a Twitter user asked Musk about his stance on unions. “Nothing stopping Tesla team at our car plant from voting union. Could do so tmrw if they wanted,” he tweeted in response. “But why pay union dues & give up stock options for nothing? Our safety record is 2X better than when plant was UAW & everybody already gets healthcare.”
Tesla factory literally has miles of painted yellow lines & tape. Report about forklifts not beeping is also bs. These are both demonstrably false, but were reported as “facts” by Reveal.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 21, 2018
The tweet immediately drew the attention of labor activists, and in 2021, the NLRB, responding to a complaint from the United Auto Workers union, found Musk had threatened employees. Tesla has argued the tweet was Musk’s way of pointing out that workers at other automakers don’t receive stock options. NLRB chair Wilma Liebman saw it differently. “The employee is going to hear it as, ‘If I vote to unionize, stock options will no longer be an option,'” she told Bloomberg in 2018.
After reviewing the decision, the Fifth Circuit Court sided with the NLRB. “Because stock options are part of Tesla’s employees’ compensation, and nothing in the tweet suggested that Tesla would be forced to end stock options or that the UAW would be the cause of giving up stock options, substantial evidence supports the NLRB’s conclusion that the tweet is as an implied threat to end stock options as retaliation for unionization,” the panel wrote.
The court ordered Musk to delete the tweet. As of the writing of this article, the message is still live. The Fifth Circuit Court also upheld an order from the NLRB that Tesla reinstates Richard Ortiz, a worker the automaker fired for organizing employees at its Fremont factory in California.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/court-rules-elon-musk-broke-federal-labor-law-with-2018-tweet-195420903.html?src=rss