11/17: Electric car coalition launched by top businessmen

Associated Press: Electric car coalition launched by top businessmen

The new coalition is aimed at getting the federal government to make a major investment in electric transportation, pointing to electric cars as the best way to confront the nation's dependence on imported oil. Businessmen from Nissan Motor Co., Fedex Corp., PG&E, and battery developers A124 Systems and Johnson Controls-Saft are involved.

The coalition is urging Congress to pass a series of tax credits and loan guarantees to bring 14 million electric cars to the road by 2020 and more than 100 million by 2030. The group envisions a network of electric vehicles in six to eight cities in the short term and an expansion across the country, making 75 percent of all vehicle miles traveled powered by electricity by 2040.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Timber theft a growing problem in the state

ARKANSAS: Sen. Lincoln gets pressure from all sides as Senate vote on health care reform nears

FLORIDA: Gov. Crist looks at special session for high-speed rail discussion

GEORGIA: Nonprofit studies GA's large rural student population, notes low graduation rates

KENTUCKY: AARP rallies against further state budget cuts

LOUISIANA: State's politics complicated in national health care debate

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour proposes merging eight universities into five

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue says jobless rate to rise even as economy gets better

SOUTH CAROLINA: 2009 Homeless County reveals depth of problem in SC

TENNESSEE: State's budget gap could reach $1.5 billion next year

VIRGINIA: Delegate Hamilton quits House, which may end ethics probe

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