· Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Consolidated Statutes
· Amends the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) program:
o Increases the reimbursement rates for the purchase of alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles.
o Increases the reimbursement rate for the retrofit of gasoline-powered vehicles to operate on alternative fuels.
o Increases the reimbursement rate for the installation of alternative fuel refueling stations.
· Provides incentive grants for the production of alternative fuels in the Commonwealth.
· Provides a 10-year moratorium on the alternative fuels tax.
· Provides that five percent of the new royalties obtained from natural gas drilling on state-owned lands will be allocated to the AFIG program.
· Provides incentive grants to post-secondary institutions in the Commonwealth for the establishment of alternative fuel training programs.
Background: The AFIG program presently provides grants to citizens, school districts, municipalities, political subdivisions and others to pay for 20 percent of the costs associated with the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles or the retrofitting of vehicles to run on alternative fuels. As the percent of reimbursement has decreased - from the original 60 percent at the inception of the program - so has the number of applicants. Meanwhile, the balance in the AFIG fund has increased. This legislation intends to generate additional dollars for expansion of the purposes and utilization of the fund while instituting higher reimbursement rates to entice consumers and other eligible parties to purchase alternative fuel vehicles.
· A freestanding act.
· Provides tax credits and grants for the construction and operation of alternative fuel production facilities.
· Provides tax credits and grants for investments in alternative energy sources.
· Provides tax credits and grants for companies to invest in pollution control equipment.
· Provides tax incentives for manufacturers of hybrid and/or alternative fuel vehicles to locate a production facility in the Commonwealth.
· A freestanding act.
· Eliminates the sales tax on the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles.
· Eliminates the sales tax on the purchase of Energy Star products used in the home.
· A freestanding act.
· Establishes the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program modeled after the same initiative enacted in the state of California.
· Amends Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Consolidated Statutes
Establishes a distribution system charge to encourage the expansion of natural gas mains to areas of the Commonwealth not presently capable of accessing natural gas service.
· Amends the Public School Code of 1949.
· Increases the rate of reimbursement for school districts constructing new buildings or renovating existing buildings to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.
· Increases the rate of reimbursement for school districts purchasing and operating or contracting for the operation of vehicles using alternative fuels.
Background: Reimbursement rates for school construction and renovation projects have not been increased since 1987. This legislation proposes a significant increase in reimbursement for such projects in exchange for engaging in energy efficient building design. Similarly, this legislation proposes a significant increase in reimbursement to school districts for pupil transportation in exchange for districts ensuring that their own vehicles or their contracted vehicles operate using cleaner and more efficient alternative fuels.
· Amends the Administrative Code of 1929
· Requires state agencies to provide specific data on state-owned vehicles, including alternative fuel vehicles
· Requires state agencies to purchase alternative fuel vehicles to meet the requirements of the federal Energy Policy Act of 1992.
· Requires state agencies to operate alternative fuel vehicles using alternative fuels, to the extent such alternative fuels are available.
· Requires new state buildings to be designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.
Background: The state has the opportunity to lead by example by increasing its purchase and use of alternative fuel vehicles in its fleets. This legislation is intended to spur state agencies into being more aggressive in meeting federal statutory requirements while simultaneously promoting environmentally sound and economically affordable alternative fuels.
· Amends Title 62 (Procurement) of the Consolidated Statutes
· Requires that all state agencies perform a cost-benefit analysis of entering into guaranteed energy savings contracts.
· Requires state agencies to enter guaranteed energy savings contracts when such contracts are expected to realize savings.
· Requires state agencies to purchase Energy Star supplies, when possible.
Background: State agencies are presently authorized to enter into guaranteed energy savings contracts. Currently, seven such contracts are being negotiated which are expected to accrue a net savings of $4 million. This legislation seeks to encourage additional effort by state agencies to be more energy efficient.
· A freestanding act
· Establishes the Weatherization Assistance Program Funding Act.
· Provides a $1 million appropriation to supplement federal funding and requires that the appropriation be adjusted annually by the rate of inflation (CPI).
HB129
· A freestanding act
· Requires the Commonwealth to participate in the Clean Cities Program administered by the United States Department of Energy.
HB172
· The legislation would call for Energy Report Cards on all state buildings. The Report Cards would track unit energy usage over time.
· Supporting the economically rational and environmentally sound development of the Trenton Black River Seam on private and public lands throughout the Commonwealth.
· This resolution will support the goal of producing additional indigenous fossil fuels from within the Commonwealth, especially natural gas which runs through state-owned and private lands in northwestern Pennsylvania.