---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 13251"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "13251"
heading: "Mandate for alternative fuel providers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/13251"
units:
  - "Chapter 134 — Energy Policy"
  - "Subchapter III — Availability and Use of Replacement Fuels, Alternative Fuels, and Alternative Fueled Private Vehicles"
---

# §13251. Mandate for alternative fuel providers

- (a) **In general—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall, before January 1, 1994, issue regulations requiring that of the new [light duty motor vehicles](/usc/42/13211.md?p=11) acquired by a [covered person](/usc/42/13211.md?p=5) described in [paragraph (2)](#a-2), the following percentages shall be [alternative fueled vehicles](/usc/42/13211.md?p=3-A) for the following model years:
    - (A) 30 percent for model year 1996.
    - (B) 50 percent for model year 1997.
    - (C) 70 percent for model year 1998.
    - (D) 90 percent for model year 1999 and thereafter.
  - (2) For purposes of this section, a person referred to in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) is—
    - (A) a [covered person](/usc/42/13211.md?p=5) whose principal business is producing, storing, refining, processing, transporting, distributing, importing, or selling at wholesale or retail any [alternative fuel](/usc/42/13211.md?p=2) other than electricity;
    - (B) a non-Federal [covered person](/usc/42/13211.md?p=5) whose principal business is generating, transmitting, importing, or selling at wholesale or retail electricity; or
    - (C) a [covered person](/usc/42/13211.md?p=5)—
      - (i) who produces, imports, or produces and imports in combination, an average of 50,000 barrels per day or more of petroleum; and
      - (ii) a substantial portion of whose business is producing [alternative fuels](/usc/42/13211.md?p=2).
  - (3)
    - (A) In the case of a [covered person](/usc/42/13211.md?p=5) described in [paragraph (2)](#a-2) with more than one affiliate, division, or other business unit, only an affiliate, division, or business unit which is substantially engaged in the [alternative fuels](/usc/42/13211.md?p=2) business (as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) by rule) shall be subject to this subsection.
    - (B) No [covered person](/usc/42/13211.md?p=5) or affiliate, division, or other business unit of such person whose principal business is—
      - (i) transforming [alternative fuels](/usc/42/13211.md?p=2) into a product that is not an [alternative fuel](/usc/42/13211.md?p=2); or
      - (ii) consuming [alternative fuels](/usc/42/13211.md?p=2) as a feedstock or fuel in the manufacture of a product that is not an [alternative fuel](/usc/42/13211.md?p=2),

      shall be subject to this subsection.

  - (4) The vehicles purchased pursuant to this section shall be operated solely on [alternative fuels](/usc/42/13211.md?p=2) except when operating in an area where the appropriate [alternative fuel](/usc/42/13211.md?p=2) is unavailable.
  - (5) Regulations issued under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) shall provide for the prompt exemption by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2), through a simple and reasonable process, from the requirements of [paragraph (1)](#a-1) of any [covered person](/usc/42/13211.md?p=5), in whole or in part, if such person demonstrates to the satisfaction of the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) that—
    - (A) [alternative fueled vehicles](/usc/42/13211.md?p=3-A) that meet the normal requirements and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) of the principal business of that person are not reasonably available for acquisition; or
    - (B) [alternative fuels](/usc/42/13211.md?p=2) that meet the normal requirements and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) of the principal business of that person are not available in the area in which the vehicles are to be operated.
- (b) **Revisions and extensions—** With respect to model years 1997 and thereafter, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) may—
  - (1) revise the percentage requirements under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1) downward, except that under no circumstances shall the percentage requirement for a model year be less than 20 percent; and
  - (2) extend the time under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1) for up to 2 model years.
- (c) **Option for electric utilities—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall, within 1 year after October 24, 1992, issue regulations requiring that, in the case of a [covered person](/usc/42/13211.md?p=5) whose principal business is generating, transmitting, importing, or selling at wholesale or retail electricity, the requirements of [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1) shall not apply until after December 31, 1997, with respect to electric [motor vehicles](/usc/42/13211.md?p=13). Any [covered person](/usc/42/13211.md?p=5) described in this subsection which plans to acquire electric [motor vehicles](/usc/42/13211.md?p=13) to comply with the requirements of this section shall so notify the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) before January 1, 1996.
- (d) **Report to Congress—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall, before January 1, 1998, submit a report to the Congress providing detailed information on actions taken to carry out this section, and the progress made and problems encountered thereunder.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–486, title V, § 501, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2887.)