Transportation Emissions Proposals from the 110th Congress
H.R. 182: TEAM up for Energy Independence Act which would, among other things, impose an excise tax on automobiles sold in the United States that are not alternative fueled automobiles, in an attempt to make alternative fuels more available to the public. Starting in 2007 there would be a 5% tax that doubles every year until 2011. The proceeds of this tax would be deposited in a trust fund and used to renovate gas stations so that they can dispense alternative fuels. The bill’s Findings section states that “climate change threatens the security and stability of our planet,” and includes additional language concerning carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases. Sponsor: Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
H.R. 670: Dependence Reduction through Innovation in Vehicles and Energy (DRIVE) Act. The Act is designed to “promote the national security and stability of the United States economy by reducing the dependence of the United States on foreign oil through the use of alternative fuels and new vehicle technologies.” Among other provisions, the bill requires the Secretary of Energy to conduct programs of research, development, demonstration and commercial application for, and to provide research grants for, a variety of advanced transportation technologies, including electric drive transportation technology; and includes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a goal of these technologies. Sponsor: Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) (79 cosponsors)
H.R. 1215: A bill to authorize the Secretary of Energy to make certain loan guarantees for advanced conservation and fuel efficiency motor vehicle technology projects that reduce the emissions of one or more greenhouse gases. Sponsor: Rep. Michael Rogers (R-MI)
H.R. 1300: Program for Real Energy Security (PROGRESS) Act. Among other provisions, the Act directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a competitive grant program to state and local governments and transportation authorities for the procuring and testing of plug-in hybrid vehicles, with the displacement of greenhouse gas emissions as a criterion for selection. The Act also authorizes the Department of Defense to enter into long-term contracts to procure biobased and unconventional fuel, including coal-to-liquid fuel from facilities that employ carbon capture and sequestration technology. Sponsor: Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) (108 cosponsors)
H.R. 1915: American Automobile Industry Promotion Act of 2007. This bill directs the Secretary of Energy to, in conjunction with the National Academy of Sciences, conduct a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for electric drive transportation technology, including control systems which optimized for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, among other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Michael Castle (R-DE) (1 cosponsor)
H.R.1945: Energy for Our Future Act. This bill contains various provisions intended to improve the energy efficiency of the United States, including the repeal of preemption of state law relating to automobile fuel economy standards. Also included is the Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Act of 2007, which would direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a competitive grant pilot demonstration program for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and sets the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions from these vehicles as as as a criteria for grant application. An applicant receiving the grant will be awarded no more than $10-million in Federal assistance for the period encompassing fiscal years 2008-2012. Sponsor: Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) (15 cosponsors)
H.R.2079: Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Act of 2007. This bill would direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a competitive grant pilot demonstration program for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and sets the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions from these vehicles as a criteria for grant application. An applicant receiving the grant will be awarded no more than $10 million in Federal assistance for the period encompassing fiscal years 2008-2012. Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) (7 cosponsors)
H.R. 2112: Purchasing Low-Emission Vehicles for Use in Government (PLUG) Act. This bill would amend the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to require the Federal Government to acquire not fewer than 50,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles for inclusion in the federal fleet within five years after the Secretary of Energy deems such vehicles “commercially available.” The bill cites Department of Energy finding that hybrid vehicles produce fewer greenhouse gases than conventional vehicles. Sponsor: Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) (1 cosponsor)
H.R. 2208: Coal Liquid Fuel Act. This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to establish standby loans with not more than six coal-to-liquid fuels (CTL) projects Under these agreements, the Secretary will make a direct loan to the qualifying CTL project, and set a cap price and minimum price for the primary term of the agreement. Qualifying projects are those which convert coal to one or more liquid or gaseous transportation fuels; or not more than one project at a facility that converts petroleum refinery waste products, including pet-coke, into one or more liquids or gaseous transportation fuels—and which demonstrates the capture and sequestration or disposal or use of the carbon dioxide (CO2)produced in the conversion process, and that produces fuel with life cycle CO2 emissions at or below the average life cycle CO2 emissions for the same type of fuel produced at traditional petroleum-based facilities with similar annual capacities. Sponsor: Rep. Richard Boucher (D-VA) (15 cosponsors)
H.R. 2215: To provide a reduction in the aggregate greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy consumed by vehicles and aircraft, and for other purposes. This bill amends the Clean Air Act by directing the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to, no later than January 1, 2010, promulgate low carbon fuel performance standards for fuels and other sources of energy used to propel vehicles and aircraft. The low carbon fuel performance standards will also include lifecycle GHG emission calculations. Sponsor: Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) (19 cosponsors)
H.R. 2426: Ethanol Infrastructure Expansion Act of 2007. This bill, among other purposes, requires the Secretary of Energy to award funds to study the feasibility of constructing dedicated ethanol pipelines, and to address technical factors that prevent transportation of ethanol in existing pipelines. Among other provisions, it cites reduced greenhouse gas emissions as a public health benefit of ethanol. Sponsor: Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA) (5 cosponsors)
H.R. 2594: Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving Act of 2007. Among other provisions, the bill finds that “the United States has an environmental interest in reducing our emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases linked to climate change.” Sponsor: Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)
H.R. 2701: Transportation Energy Security and Climate Change Mitigation Act of 2007. This bill, among other provisions, mandates the establishment of a Center for Climate Change and Environment within the Department of Transportation, which would plan, coordinate, and implement department-wide initiatives and research to reduce transportation-related energy use, mitigate the effects of climate change, and address the impacts of climate change on transportation and infrastructure. The bill also directs the Administrator of the EPA to have the National Academy of Sciences identify the potential impacts of climate change on the nation’s water resources, watersheds, and water quality. It also directs the Secretary of the Army to ensure that water resources projects and studies carried out by the Army Corps of Engineers account for potential effects of climate change; and directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to conduct a study of the increase in demand for the Agency’s services due to natural disasters that can be reasonably attributed to climate change. The bill also contains numerous provisions intended to make public and commercial transportation, and federal buildings, more energy-efficient. Sponsor: Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) (15 cosponsors) Action: 6/20/07 Reported out of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure by voice vote. 8/4/07: Incorporated into H.R. 3221, which passed the House by 241-172.
H.R. 2858: To promote the production and use of ethanol. Among other provisions, this bill amends the Petroleum Practices Act to require the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program for research into developing sweet sorghum as an ethanol feedstock to replace corn; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol production is a stated goal of the program. Sponsor: Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE)
H.R. 2881: FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007. Among other provisions, this bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program to carry out not more than 6 environmental mitigation demonstration projects at public-use airports, and makes measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions a criteria of project selection. The bill also requires the Administrator of the FAA to establish a program to develop and certify CLEEN (Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise) engine and airframe technology, and mandates as one performance objective the development, by September 30, 2015, of certifiable aircraft technology that reduces GHG emissions by increasing aircraft fuel efficiency by 25% relative to 1997 subsonic jet aircraft technology. Sponsor: Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) (33 cosponsors) Action: 6/28/07: Reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure by voice vote. 9/20/07: Passed the House by 267-151.
H.R. 2927: To increase the corporate average fuel economy standards for automobiles, to promote the domestic development and production of advanced technology vehicles, and for other purposes. Among a variety of provisions intended to increase corporate average fuel economy standards, this bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe average fuel economy standards expressed in terms of average miles per gallon of fuel and in terms of average grams per mile of CO2 emissions. The bill also gives the Secretary the authority to prescribe separate standards for different classes of passenger automobiles based on attributes related to fuel economy, including carbon efficiency. Sponsor: Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN) (162 cosponsors)
H.R. 3118: To promote the production and use of ethanol. Among other provisions, this bill amends the Petroleum Practices Act to require the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program for research into developing sweet sorghum as an ethanol feedstock to supplement corn; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol production is a stated goal of the program. This bill is similar to H.R. 2858, also sponsored by Rep. Terry, except that instead of replacing corn with sweet sorghum as an ethanol feedstock, this bill intends to supplement corn with sweet sorghum. Sponsor: Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE)
S. 133: American Fuels Act of 2007. Among other provisions, the Act amends the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545) by expanding the definition of alternative diesel fuel to include a variety of biodiesel sources, as well as diesel manufactured by a coal-to-liquid fuel process that provides for carbon capture and sequestration. Sponsor: Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) (3 cosponsors)
S. 339: Dependence Reduction through Innovation in Vehicles and Energy (DRIVE) Act. Among other provisions designed to increase the use of alternative fuels and new technology, the Act directs the Secretary of Energy to include greenhouse gas reduction capability in a “research, development, demonstration, and commercial application program for electric drive transportation technology and engine dominant hybrid vehicle technology.”
Sponsor: Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) (24 cosponsors)
S. 1073: Clean Fuels and Vehicles Act of 2007. Among other provisions, the Act would amend the Clean Air Act to promote the use of fuels with low lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, establish a greenhouse gas performance standard for motor vehicle fuels, and require a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles. The bill directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to “establish a credit trading program to address the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from fuels available for use in motor vehicles.” The Administrator is also required to mandate that major producers, refiners, or importers of said fuels reduce the average lifecycle GHG emissions per unit of energy delivered to motor vehicles to 3 percent below the fuel emissions baseline (to be determined by the Administrator) for 2015, with steady reductions thereafter. Fuel providers can earn tradable credits for achieving lifecycle emissions reductions greater than those required. In addition, the bill requires the Administrator to, by 2009, determine a vehicle GHG emissions baseline, based on the aggregate quantity and variety of new automobiles sold in the U.S. in model year 2002; and further requires the Administrator to mandate reductions in GHG emissions per vehicle mile for model years starting in 2015. Sponsor: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) (2 cosponsors)
S.1297: Advanced Clean Fuels Act of 2007. This bill amends the Clean Air Act with the intent of promoting advanced clean fuels. Among other provisions, it directs the Administrator of the EPA to: by Jan. 1, 2010, establish a methodology for use in determining the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of transportation fuel in commerce, including renewable fuels; to require each fuel provider to reduce the average life-cycle GHG emissions per unit of energy of the aggregate quantity of transportation fuel. It also instructs the Administrator to require renewable fuel and advanced clean fuel volume standards for transportation fuels. The bill makes reduced lifecycle (GHG) emissions compared to conventional fuels part of the definition of renewable and advanced clean fuels. Sponsor: Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) (2 cosponsors)
S. 1321: Energy Savings Act of 2007. The purpose of this bill is to enhance the energy security of the United States by promoting biofuels, energy efficiency, and carbon capture and storage. Among other provisions, it directs the President to establish a renewable fuels standard, which includes a requirement that biofuels facilities built after enactment achieve at least a 20% reduction in life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to gasoline. The bill also directs the Secretary of Energy to establish competitive grant programs for electric drive vehicles and for near-term oil-saving transportation projects, and makes GHG emissions reductions and reporting a criteria for project selection. In addition, the bill includes a carbon capture and storage (CCS) research, development, and demonstration title which, among other things, requires the Secretary of Energy to carry out a demonstration of large-scale carbon dioxide capture from a gasification facility selected by the Secretary. Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) Action: 5/7/07: Reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources by a vote of 20-8. 6/21/07: Incorporated into H.R. 6, which passed the Senate by 65-27.
S. 1324: National Low-Carbon Fuel Standard Act of 2007. This bill would amend the Clean Air Act to expand the renewable fuel standard, and to require the Administrator of the EPA to establish a low-carbon fuel standard, as well as an ultra-low carbon fuel standard, for transportation fuels. Sponsor: Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) (2 cosponsors)
S. 1419: Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007. This bill contains a number of proposals intended to promote renewable fuels and energy efficiency, among other purposes. Its titles addressing biofuels, energy efficiency promotion, and carbon capture and storage are similar to those included in S. 1321. In addition, the bill gives the Secretary of Transportation the authority to raise fuel economy standards, and directs the Secretary to consider greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions levels as a criteria when deciding whether and by how much to raise fuel economy standards. Sponsor: Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
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