42 USC 13217 - Measurement of alternative fuel use

Collapse to view only § 13217. Measurement of alternative fuel use

§ 13211. Definitions
§ 13212. Minimum Federal fleet requirement
§ 13213. Refueling
§ 13214. Federal agency promotion, education, and coordination
§ 13215. Omitted
§ 13216. Recognition and incentive awards program
§ 13217. Measurement of alternative fuel use
§ 13218. Reports
§ 13219. United States Postal Service
§ 13220. Biodiesel fuel use credits

§ 13211. DefinitionsFor purposes of this subchapter, subchapter II, and subchapter III (unless otherwise specified)—

(1) the term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;

(2) the term “alternative fuel” means methanol, denatured ethanol, and other alcohols; mixtures containing 85 percent or more (or such other percentage, but not less than 70 percent, as determined by the Secretary, by rule, to provide for requirements relating to cold start, safety, or vehicle functions) by volume of methanol, denatured ethanol, and other alcohols with gasoline or other fuels; natural gas, including liquid fuels domestically produced from natural gas; liquefied petroleum gas; hydrogen; coal-derived liquid fuels; fuels (other than alcohol) derived from biological materials; electricity (including electricity from solar energy); and any other fuel the Secretary determines, by rule, is substantially not petroleum and would yield substantial energy security benefits and substantial environmental benefits;

(3)Alternative fueled vehicle.—

(A)In general.—The term “alternative fueled vehicle” means a dedicated vehicle or a dual fueled vehicle;

(B)Inclusions.—The term “alternative fueled vehicle” includes—

(i) a new qualified fuel cell motor vehicle (as defined in section 30B(b)(3) of title 26);

(ii) a new advanced lean burn technology motor vehicle (as defined in section 30B(c)(3) of that title);

(iii) a new qualified hybrid motor vehicle (as defined in section 30B(d)(3) of that title); and

(iv) any other type of vehicle that the Administrator demonstrates to the Secretary would achieve a significant reduction in petroleum consumption.1

1 So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.

(4) the term “comparable conventionally fueled motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle which is, as determined by the Secretary—

(A) commercially available at the time the comparability of the vehicle is being assessed;

(B) powered by an internal combustion engine that utilizes gasoline or diesel fuel as its fuel source; and

(C) provides passenger capacity or payload capacity the same or similar to the alternative fueled vehicle to which it is being compared;

(5) “covered person” means a person that owns, operates, leases, or otherwise controls—

(A) a fleet that contains at least 20 motor vehicles that are centrally fueled or capable of being centrally fueled, and are used primarily within a metropolitan statistical area or a consolidated metropolitan statistical area, as established by the Bureau of the Census, with a 1980 population of 250,000 or more; and

(B) at least 50 motor vehicles within the United States;

(6) the term “dedicated vehicle” means—

(A) a dedicated automobile, as such term is defined in section 32901(a)(7) 2

2 See References in Text note below.

of title 49; or

(B) a motor vehicle, other than an automobile, that operates solely on alternative fuel;

(7) the term “domestic” means derived from resources within the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, including the outer Continental Shelf, as such term is defined in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act [43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.], or from resources within a Nation with which there is in effect a free trade agreement requiring national treatment for trade;

(8) the term “dual fueled vehicle” means—

(A) dual fueled automobile, as such term is defined in section 32901(a)(8) 2 of title 49; or

(B) a motor vehicle, other than an automobile, that is capable of operating on alternative fuel and is capable of operating on gasoline or diesel fuel;

(9) the term “fleet” means a group of 20 or more light duty motor vehicles, used primarily in a metropolitan statistical area or consolidated metropolitan statistical area, as established by the Bureau of the Census, with a 1980 population of more than 250,000, that are centrally fueled or capable of being centrally fueled and are owned, operated, leased, or otherwise controlled by a governmental entity or other person who owns, operates, leases, or otherwise controls 50 or more such vehicles, by any person who controls such person, by any person controlled by such person, and by any person under common control with such person, except that such term does not include—

(A) motor vehicles held for lease or rental to the general public;

(B) motor vehicles held for sale by motor vehicle dealers, including demonstration motor vehicles;

(D) law enforcement motor vehicles;

(E) emergency motor vehicles, including vehicles directly used in the emergency repair of transmission lines and in the restoration of electricity service following power outages, as determined by the Secretary;

(F) motor vehicles acquired and used for military purposes that the Secretary of Defense has certified to the Secretary must be exempt for national security reasons;

(G) nonroad vehicles, including farm and construction motor vehicles; or

(H) motor vehicles which under normal operations are garaged at personal residences at night;

(10) the term “fuel supplier” means—

(A) any person engaged in the importing, refining, or processing of crude oil to produce motor fuel;

(B) any person engaged in the importation, production, storage, transportation, distribution, or sale of motor fuel; and

(11) the term “light duty motor vehicle” means a light duty truck or light duty vehicle, as such terms are defined under section 7550(7) of this title, of less than or equal to 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight rating;

(12) the term “motor fuel” means any substance suitable as a fuel for a motor vehicle;

(13) the term “motor vehicle” has the meaning given such term under section 7550(2) of this title; and

(14) the term “replacement fuel” means the portion of any motor fuel that is methanol, ethanol, or other alcohols, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen, coal derived liquid fuels, fuels (other than alcohol) derived from biological materials, electricity (including electricity from solar energy), ethers, or any other fuel the Secretary determines, by rule, is substantially not petroleum and would yield substantial energy security benefits and substantial environmental benefits.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title III, § 301, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2866; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(4) [div. B, title I, § 122], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–229; Pub. L. 109–58, title VII, § 707, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 818; Pub. L. 110–181, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2862, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 559.)

§ 13212. Minimum Federal fleet requirement

(a) General requirements

(1) The Federal Government shall acquire at least—

(A) 5,000 light duty alternative fueled vehicles in fiscal year 1993;

(B) 7,500 light duty alternative fueled vehicles in fiscal year 1994; and

(2) The Secretary shall allocate the acquisitions necessary to meet the requirements under paragraph (1).

(b) Percentage requirements

(1) Of the total number of vehicles acquired by a Federal fleet, at least—

(A) 25 percent in fiscal year 1996;

(B) 33 percent in fiscal year 1997;

(D) 75 percent in fiscal year 1999 and thereafter,

shall be alternative fueled vehicles.

(2) The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of General Services where appropriate, may permit a Federal fleet to acquire a smaller percentage than is required in paragraph (1), so long as the aggregate percentage acquired by all Federal fleets is at least equal to the required percentage.

(3) For purposes of this subsection, the term “Federal fleet” means 20 or more light duty motor vehicles, located in a metropolitan statistical area or consolidated metropolitan statistical area, as established by the Bureau of the Census, with a 1980 population of more than 250,000, that are centrally fueled or capable of being centrally fueled and are owned, operated, leased, or otherwise controlled by or assigned to any Federal executive department, military department, Government corporation, independent establishment, or executive agency, the United States Postal Service, the Congress, the courts of the United States, or the Executive Office of the President. Such term does not include—

(A) motor vehicles held for lease or rental to the general public;

(B) motor vehicles used for motor vehicle manufacturer product evaluations or tests;

(D) emergency vehicles;

(E) motor vehicles acquired and used for military purposes that the Secretary of Defense has certified to the Secretary must be exempt for national security reasons; or

(F) nonroad vehicles, including farm and construction vehicles.

(d) Application of requirements

(e) Resale

(f) Vehicle emission requirements

(1) DefinitionsIn this subsection:

(A) Federal agency

(B) Medium duty passenger vehicle

(2) Prohibition

(A) In general

(B) ExceptionThe prohibition in subparagraph (A) shall not apply to acquisition of a vehicle if the head of the agency certifies in writing, in a separate certification for each individual vehicle purchased, either—

(i) that no low greenhouse gas emitting vehicle is available to meet the functional needs of the agency and details in writing the functional needs that could not be met with a low greenhouse gas emitting vehicle; or

(ii) that the agency has taken specific alternative more cost-effective measures to reduce petroleum consumption that—(I) have reduced a measured and verified quantity of greenhouse gas emissions equal to or greater than the quantity of greenhouse gas reductions that would have been achieved through acquisition of a low greenhouse gas emitting vehicle over the lifetime of the vehicle; or(II) will reduce each year a measured and verified quantity of greenhouse gas emissions equal to or greater than the quantity of greenhouse gas reductions that would have been achieved each year through acquisition of a low greenhouse gas emitting vehicle.

(3) Guidance

(A) In general

(B) Consideration

(g) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 102–486, title III, § 303, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2871; Pub. L. 109–58, title VII, § 702, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 815; Pub. L. 110–140, title I, § 141, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1517.)

§ 13213. Refueling

(a) In general

(b) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 102–486, title III, § 304, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2872.)

§ 13214. Federal agency promotion, education, and coordination

(a) Promotion and education

The Secretary, in cooperation with the Administrator of General Services, shall promote programs and educate officials and employees of Federal agencies on the merits of alternative fueled vehicles. The Secretary, in cooperation with the Administrator of General Services, shall provide and disseminate information to Federal agencies on—

(1) the location of refueling and maintenance facilities available to alternative fueled vehicles in the Federal fleet;

(2) the range and performance capabilities of alternative fueled vehicles;

(3) State and local government and commercial alternative fueled vehicle programs;

(4) Federal alternative fueled vehicle purchases and placements;

(5) the operation and maintenance of alternative fueled vehicles in accordance with the manufacturer’s standards and recommendations; and

(6) incentive programs established pursuant to sections 13215 

(b) Assistance in procurement and placement

(Pub. L. 102–486, title III, § 305, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2872.)

§ 13215. Omitted

§ 13216. Recognition and incentive awards program

(a) Awards program

(b) CriteriaThe Administrator of General Services shall provide annual awards to Federal employees who best demonstrate a commitment—

(1) to the success of the Federal alternative fueled vehicle program through—

(A) exemplary promotion of alternative fueled vehicle use within Federal agencies;

(B) proper alternative fueled vehicle care and maintenance;

(D) innovative alternative fueled vehicle procurement, refueling, and maintenance arrangements with commercial entities;

(E) making regular requests for alternative fueled vehicles for agency use; and

(F) maintaining a high number of alternative fueled vehicles used relative to comparable conventionally fueled motor vehicles used; and

(2) to fuel efficiency in Federal motor vehicle use through the promotion of such measures as increased use of fuel-efficient vehicles, carpooling, ride-sharing, regular maintenance, and other conservation and awareness measures.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title III, § 307, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2873.)

§ 13217. Measurement of alternative fuel use

The Administrator of General Services shall use such means as may be necessary to measure the percentage of alternative fuel use in dual-fueled vehicles procured by the Administrator of General Services. Not later than one year after October 24, 1992, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of General Services, shall issue guidelines to Federal agencies for use in measuring the aggregate percentage of alternative fuel use in dual-fueled vehicles in their fleets.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title III, § 308, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2874.)

§ 13218. Reports

(a) Omitted

(b) Compliance report

(1) In general

Not later than February 15, 2006, and annually thereafter for the next 14 years, the head of each Federal agency which is subject to this Act and Executive Order No. 13031 shall prepare, and submit to Congress, a report that—

(A) summarizes the compliance by such Federal agency with the alternative fuel purchasing requirements for Federal fleets under this Act and Executive Order No. 13031; and

(B) includes a plan of compliance that contains specific dates for achieving compliance using reasonable means.

(2) Contents

(A) In general

Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include—

(i) any information on any failure to meet statutory requirements or requirements under Executive Order No. 13031;

(ii)(I) any plan of compliance that the agency head is required to submit under Executive Order No. 13031; or(II) if a plan of compliance referred to in subclause (I) does not contain specific dates by which the Federal agency is to achieve compliance, a revised plan of compliance that contains specific dates for achieving compliance; and

(iii) any related information the agency head is required to submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order No. 13031.

(B) Penultimate report

(3) Public dissemination of report

Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall be made public, including—

(A) placing such report on a publicly available website on the Internet; and

(B) publishing the availability of the report, including such website address, in the Federal Register.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title III, § 310, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2874; Pub. L. 105–388, § 8(a), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3481; Pub. L. 109–58, title VII, § 705, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 817.)

§ 13219. United States Postal Service

(a) Omitted

(b) Coordination

The Postmaster General shall consider the following criteria in the procurement and placement of alternative fueled vehicles:

(1) The procurement plans of State and local governments and other public and private institutions.

(2) The current and future availability of refueling and repair facilities.

(3) The reduction in emissions of the Postal fleet.

(4) Whether the vehicle is to be used in a nonattainment area as specified in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

(5) The operational requirements of the Postal fleet.

(6) The contribution to the reduction in the consumption of oil in the transportation sector.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title III, § 311, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2874.)

§ 13220. Biodiesel fuel use credits

(a) Allocation of credits

(1) In general

(2) ExceptionsNo credits shall be allocated under paragraph (1) for a purchase of biodiesel—

(A) for use in alternative fueled vehicles; or

(B) that is required by Federal or State law.

(3) Authority to modify percentage

(4) Documentation

(b) Use of credits

(1) In general

(2) Limitation

(d) Issuance of rule

(e) Collection of data

(f) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section—

(1) the term “biodiesel”—

(A) means a diesel fuel substitute produced from nonpetroleum renewable resources that meets the registration requirements for fuels and fuel additives established by the Environmental Protection Agency under section 7545 of this title;

(B) includes biodiesel derived from—

(i) animal wastes, including poultry fats and poultry wastes, and other waste materials; or

(ii) municipal solid waste and sludges and oils derived from wastewater and the treatment of wastewater; and

(2) the term “qualifying volume” means—

(A) 450 gallons; or

(B) if the Secretary determines by rule that the average annual alternative fuel use in light duty vehicles by fleets and covered persons exceeds 450 gallons or gallon equivalents, the amount of such average annual alternative fuel use.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title III, § 312, as added Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(a) [title XII, § 1201(a)], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681, 2681–48; Pub. L. 105–388, § 7(a), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3480; Pub. L. 109–58, title XV, § 1515, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 1091.)