Governor Rick Perry wants Texas to lead in green technology

AUSTIN - How does an extra $5,000 dollars in your pocket sound?

If Governor Rick Perry and other Texas politicians have their way - they'll give it to you for buying a new-generation plug-in hybrid car.

Gov. Perry proposed this in his state-of-the-state address last month to make Texas the leader in electric transportation.

The goal of the rebate program is to clean the air.

Gov. Perry said the $5,000 incentive would come from funds Texans have already paid to reduce emissions.

It's worth noting that Governor Perry says the tax credit applies only to hybrid-buyers whom live in areas of Texas deemed to be violating federal pollution standards.

Those areas are: Beaumont, Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, El Paso, Galveston, Houston and Port Arthur.

Also, as part of the stimulus bill, a federal tax credit was approved for new-generation hybrid buyers across the country.

The maximum federal credit there is $10,000, therefore, Texans are looking at large discounts when the new fleet of plug-in hybrids roll out in 2011.