MODEL BILLS

Transition to Zero Emission Vehicles Act

Summary: The Transition to Zero Emission Vehicles Act creates programs to gradually convert all government-owned and licensed fleet vehicles to zero emission vehicles.

Based in part on District of Columbia Sec. 50-741

Background information is available from Advanced Energy United and the National Conference of State Legislatures

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act shall be called the “Transition to Zero Emission Vehicles Act.”

SECTION 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE

(A)  FINDINGS—The legislature/council finds that:

1) In the United States, about 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from motor vehicles.

2) It is crucial to minimize vehicle emissions as soon as possible. Every state and most localities own fleets of vehicles and most also license private fleets, like buses and taxicabs.

3) To effectively combat climate change, it is essential to gradually convert all government-owned and licensed fleet vehicles to zero emission vehicles.

(B)   PURPOSE—This law is enacted to protect the environment and public health.

SECTION 3.  GOALS FOR ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES

In section XXX, the following new paragraphs shall be inserted:

(A) DEFINITIONS—In this section:

1) “Department” means the [Department of Environmental Protection].

2) “Private vehicle fleet” means privately-owned vehicles that licensed to operate in the [state/city/county] where the owned vehicle or group of vehicles have a combined capacity to carry fifty or more passengers.

3) “Zero emission vehicle” means a vehicle that does not emit exhaust gas or other pollutants from its onboard source of power.

(B) TRANSITION OF GOVERNMENT VEHICLES TO ZERO EMISSIONS

1) By [DATE], the Department shall establish a program to transition all state/city/county-owned vehicles to zero emission vehicles by January 1, [2030].

2) The Department shall establish a phase-in schedule for this transition of zero emission vehicles, which at a minimum will apply to 50 percent of all state/city/county-owned vehicles by 2026 and 75 percent of vehicles by 2028.

(C) TRANSITION OF LICENSED PRIVATE FLEET VEHICLES TO ZERO EMISSIONS

1) By [DATE], the Department shall establish a program to transition all vehicles in private vehicle fleets to zero emission vehicles by January 1, [2040].

2) The Department shall establish a phase-in schedule for this transition of private vehicle fleets to zero emission vehicles, which at a minimum will apply to 50 percent of vehicles by 2030 and 75 percent of vehicles by 2035.

3) The Department shall require each private vehicle-for-hire company to develop a greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan which shall include proposals on how to meet targets and goals for reducing emissions.

(D) TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION PROJECTS

1) The [Public Service Commission] may consider an application by the [electric company] to promote transportation electrification through utility infrastructure ownership and other programs and incentives.

2) The [Public Service Commission] may approve the application if it finds that it is in the public interest, consistent with the [cite existing statutory standards].

(E) ENFORCEMENT

1) The Department shall promulgate rules to implement this section.

2) The Department shall establish and authorize non-compliance fees to be assessed against an owner or operator for failure to meet the standards set forth in this section or rules issued pursuant to this section.

3) Fees collected pursuant to this subsection may be used to construct and maintain electrification infrastructure.

SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE

This law shall become effective on XXXX 1, 202X.