This is incredible news.

Austin’s plans for nationwide promotion of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs) wowed the EAA representatives packed into a meeting room at the Austin Energy building for the EAA Chapters Conference we hosted here back in April. With so much development and advocacy of electric vehicles having historically come from the west coast (especially California), it was Austin’s moment to shine as a representative from the city discussed the plan to create a market for these vehicles — here in Austin, and in major cities across the country. At the delighted faces of visitors from California and elsewhere, I felt really proud of my city, and the massive project they’re trying to spearhead for the good of the entire country.

Yesterday those plans became public.

Additional reports from KUT, KXAN (click on the video “Promoting Hybrid Cars”), News 8 Austin (click on Push For Plug-Ins video button), and of course our local utility, Austin Energy.