Massachusetts Citizens Get Licensed to Support the Environment
All Massachusetts' drivers have a unique opportunity to safeguard the Commonwealth's
waterways by selecting a "Preserve the Trust" environmental license
plate. These are the only specialty plates that exclusively benefit the
environment. Three plates are offered and individually represent the coastal,
central and western regions of the state. Proceeds from the sale of over
70,000 environmental license plates have funded more than $16 million in
environmental protection and education projects. From Provincetown to Pittsfield,
approximately $1million in grants is awarded annually to fund a diverse
array of environmental efforts.
The cost of a "Preserve
the Trust" environmental specialty plate is $40. At initial purchase,
$28 is a tax deductible contribution that goes directly to the Massachusetts
Environmental Trust to support environmental programs/projects with a
focus on water and water-related issues. The remaining $12 is a one time
only fee to cover manufacturing expense of the plate.
Renew your plate every
two years and the entire $40 goes to the Trust and is tax deductible.
(This is in addition to the standard $41 registration fee the Registry
of Motor Vehicles collects at the time of renewal.) The plates are available
at your local
Registry of Motor Vehicles or you can renew an existing plate online.
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Right Whale & Roseate Terns
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| The first and most popular plate, offered since 1993, features the fluke of a northern right whale and two roseate terns. The North Atlantic Right Whale is the state marine mammal and the world's most endangered large whale. Roseate terns are native to Massachusetts and also endangered. Both of these animals are federally
recognized endangered species and are dependent upon healthy Massachusetts ecosystems for their survival. |
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Leaping Brook Trout
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| This second plate was introduced in 1998. The waterways of central and western Massachusetts are represented by the image of a brook trout. A native to the state's western streams, this North American game fish serves as a symbol of both the pristine water in which the fish thrives, and the recreational benefits of a healthy
environment. |
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Blackstone Valley Mill
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| The Blackstone Valley, running through the central part of the state, was the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Offered since 1999, the Blackstone Valley Mill Plate reminds us that that our environmental focus must include more than whales and habitat protection. This plate highlights the need to restore our
urban rivers and streams to enhance their ecology and improve the health of riverfront communities. |
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