Alternative Fueled Vehicles Competitiveness and Energy Security Act of 2013
A BILL
To reduce oil consumption and improve energy security, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
Alternative fuel— The term alternative fuel has the meaning given the term in section 301 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13211).
Alternative fueled vehicle— The term alternative fueled vehicle has the meaning given the term in section 301 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13211).
Community college— The term community college has the meaning given the term junior or community college in section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058).
Department— The term Department means the Department of Energy.
Nonroad vehicle—
In general— The term nonroad vehicle means a vehicle that is not licensed for onroad use.
Inclusions— The term nonroad vehicle includes a vehicle described in subparagraph (A) that is used principally—
for industrial, farming, or commercial use;
for rail transportation;
at an airport; or
for marine purposes.
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.
Sec. 3 Loan guarantees for alternative fuel infrastructure
Section 1703(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16513(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(11) Infrastructure for provision and distribution of alternative fuels.”
Sec. 4 Advanced technology vehicles manufacturing incentive program
Section 136 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17013) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (1)—
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
in the matter preceding clause (i) (as redesignated by clause (i)), by striking “means an ultra efficient vehicle or a light duty vehicle that meets—” and inserting “means—
“(A) an ultra efficient vehicle or a light duty vehicle that meets—”
in clause (iii) (as redesignated by clause (i)), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(B) a vehicle (such as a medium-duty or heavy-duty work truck, bus, or rail transit vehicle) that—
“(i) is used on a public street, road, highway, or transitway;
“(ii) meets each applicable emission standard that is established as of the date of the application; and
“(iii) will reduce consumption of conventional motor fuel by 25 percent or more, as compared to existing surface transportation technologies that perform a similar function, unless the Secretary determines that—
“(I) the percentage is not achievable for a vehicle type or class; and
“(II) an alternative percentage for that vehicle type or class will result in substantial reductions in motor fuel consumption within the United States.”
in paragraph (3)(B)—
by striking “equipment and” and inserting “equipment,”; and
by inserting “, and manufacturing process equipment” after “suppliers”; and
by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
“(4) Qualifying components—The term qualifying components means components, systems, or groups of subsystems that the Secretary determines—
“(A) to be designed to improve fuel economy or otherwise substantially reduce consumption of conventional motor fuel; or
“(B) to contribute measurably to the overall improved fuel use of an advanced technology vehicle, including idle reduction technologies.”
in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “to automobile” and inserting “to advanced technology vehicle”;
in subsection (d)(1), in the first sentence, by striking “a total of not more than $25,000,000,000 in”;
in subsection (h)—
in the subsection heading, by striking “Automobile” and inserting “Advanced Technology Vehicle”; and
in paragraph (1)(B), by striking “automobiles” each place it appears and inserting “advanced technology vehicles”; and
in subsection (i), by striking “2012” and inserting “2018”.
Sec. 5 Conventional fuel replacement calculation and assessment
Methodology— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, by rule, develop a methodology for calculating the equivalent volumes of conventional fuel displaced by use of each alternative fuel to assess the effectiveness of alternative fuel and alternative fueled vehicles in reducing oil imports.
National assessment— Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—
conduct a national assessment (using the methodology developed under subsection (a)) of the effectiveness of alternative fuel and alternative fueled vehicles in reducing oil imports into the United States, including as assessment of—
market penetration of alternative fuel and alternative fueled vehicles in the United States;
successes and barriers to deployment identified by the programs established under this Act; and
the maximum feasible deployment of alternative fuel and alternative fueled vehicles by 2020 and 2030; and
report to Congress the results of the assessment.
Sec. 6 Technical assistance and coordination
Technical assistance to State, local, and tribal governments—
In general— In carrying out this title, the Secretary shall provide, at the request of the Governor, mayor, county executive, public utility commissioner, or other appropriate official or designee, technical assistance to State, local, and tribal governments or to a public-private partnership described in paragraph (2) to assist with the deployment of alternative fuel and alternative fueled vehicles and infrastructure.
Public-private partnership— Technical assistance under this section may be awarded to a public-private partnership, comprised of State, local or tribal governments and nongovernmental entities, including—
electric or natural gas utilities or other alternative fuel distributors;
vehicle manufacturers;
alternative fueled vehicle or alternative fuel technology providers;
vehicle fleet owners;
transportation and freight service providers; or
other appropriate non-Federal entities, as determined by the Secretary.
Assistance— The technical assistance described in paragraph (1) may include—
coordination in the selection, location, and timing of alternative fuel recharging and refueling equipment and distribution infrastructure, including the identification of transportation corridors and specific alternative fuels that would be made available;
development of protocols and communication standards that facilitate vehicle refueling and recharging into electric, natural gas, and other alternative fuel distribution systems;
development of codes and standards for the installation of alternative fuel distribution and recharging and refueling equipment;
education and outreach for the deployment of alternative fuel and alternative fueled vehicles; and
utility rate design and integration of alternative fueled vehicles into electric and natural gas utility distribution systems.
Cost Sharing— Cost sharing for assistance awarded under this section shall be consistent with section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352).
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
Sec. 7 Workforce training
In general— The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall award grants to community colleges, other institutions of higher education, and other qualified training and education institutions for the establishment or expansion of programs to provide training and education for vocational workforce development for—
the manufacture and maintenance of alternative fueled vehicles; and
the manufacture, installation, support, and inspection of alternative fuel recharging, refueling, and distribution infrastructure.
Purpose— Training funded under this section shall be intended to ensure that the workforce has the necessary skills needed to manufacture, install, and maintain alternative fuel infrastructure and alternative fueled vehicles.
Scope— Training funded under this section shall include training for—
electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, and other trades and contractors who will be installing, maintaining, or providing safety support for alternative fuel recharging, refueling, and distribution infrastructure;
building code inspection officials;
vehicle, engine, and powertrain dealers and mechanics; and
others positions as the Secretary determines necessary to successfully deploy alternative fuels and vehicles.
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
Sec. 8 Reduction of engine idling and conventional fuel consumption
Definition of idle reduction technology— Section 756(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16104(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:
“(5) Idle reduction technology—The term idle reduction technology means an advanced truck stop electrification system, auxiliary power unit, or other technology that—
“(A)
“(i) is used to reduce long-duration idling; and
“(ii) allows for the main drive engine or auxiliary refrigeration engine to be shut down; or
“(B) uses an alternative fuel to reduce consumption of conventional fuel and environmental emissions.”
Funding— Section 756(b)(4)(B) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16104(b)(4)(B)) is amended in clauses (i) and (ii) by striking “fiscal year 2008” each place it appears and inserting “each of fiscal years 2008 through 2018”.
Sec. 9 Electric, hydrogen, and natural gas utility and oil pipeline participation
In general— The Secretary shall identify barriers and remedies in existing electric and natural gas and oil pipeline transmission and distribution systems to the distribution of alternative fuels and the deployment of alternative fuel recharging and refueling capability, at economically competitive costs of alternative fuel for consumers, including—
model regulatory rate design and billing for recharging and refueling alternative fueled vehicles;
electric grid load management and applications that will allow batteries in plug-in electric drive vehicles to be used for grid storage, ancillary services provision, and backup power;
integration of plug-in electric drive vehicles with smart grid technology, including protocols and standards, necessary equipment, and information technology systems;
technical and economic barriers to transshipment of biofuels by oil pipelines, or distribution of hydrogen; and
any other barriers to installing sufficient and appropriate alternative fuel recharging and refueling infrastructure.
Consultation— The Secretary shall carry out this section in consultation with—
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;
State public utility commissions;
State consumer advocates;
electric and natural gas utility and transmission owners and operators;
oil pipeline owners and operators;
hydrogen suppliers; and
other affected entities.
Report— Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing actions taken to carry out this section.
Sec. 10 Federal fleets
In general— The Secretary (in consultation with the Administrator of General Services, the Secretary of Defense, the Postmaster General, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget) shall establish an interagency coordination council for the development and procurement of alternative fueled vehicles by Federal agencies.
Electricity and natural gas— Electricity and natural gas consumed by Federal agencies to fuel alternative fueled vehicles shall be—
considered an alternative fuel; and
accounted for under Federal fleet management reporting requirements, rather than under Federal building management reporting requirements.
Assessment and report— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary (in consultation with the Administrator of General Services, the Secretary of Defense, the Postmaster General, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget) shall complete an assessment of Federal Government fleets (including the United States Postal Service and the Department of Defense) and submit to Congress a report that describes—
for each Federal agency with a fleet of more than 200 vehicles, which types of vehicles the agency uses that would or would not be suitable for alternative fuel use either through the procurement of new alternative fueled vehicles, or the conversion to alternative fuel, taking into account the types of vehicles for which alternative fuel could provide comparable functionality and lifecycle costs;
the quantity of alternative fueled vehicles that could be deployed by the Federal Government in 5 years and in 10 years, assuming that the vehicles are available and are purchased when new vehicles are needed or existing vehicles are replaced; and
the estimated cost and benefits to the Federal Government for vehicle purchases or conversions described in this subsection.