Getting paid to give away your old cars

Lawmakers, environmentalists and auto manufacturers are making progress on a plan that would encourage people to trade in their old cars for energy-efficient new models. The formula for what vehicles would qualify is still being hashed out. But trades, such as a nine year old or older Ford Explorer traded for a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, for example, would probably be the kind of swap that would get the maximum benefit. Legislators have been leaning toward exempting businesses from a stiff fuel economy requirement, so that a building contractor, for example, would be able to simply trade in an old pickup truck for a new one to get a big rebate.