(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to: (1) provide loan guarantees for the construction of facilities for the manufacture of advanced vehicle batteries and battery systems; (2) provide grants to state governments, local governments, metropolitan transportation authorities, air pollution control districts, or private or nonprofit entities to carry out projects to encourage the use of plug-in electric drive vehicles or other emerging electric vehicle technologies; (3) provide electric drive transportation education nationwide, including to establish a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle competition known as the Dr. Andrew Frank Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Competition for institutions of higher education; (4) make grants to owners of domestic motor vehicle manufacturing or production facilities for the production of plug-in hybrid electric motors or conversion modules to convert vehicles to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; and (5) provide revolving loans to eligible entities to carry out qualified electric transportation projects. Authorizes appropriations.
Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to provide grants to hybrid component manufacturers to encourage domestic production of plug-in electric hybrid vehicles. Authorizes the Secretary to coordinate such grant program with similar state and local programs, including by: (1) establishing matching grant arrangements; and (2) retaining and retraining skilled workers from manufacturing facilities that have recently closed or will close in the near future to produce plug-in electric hybrid vehicles and hybrid components. Authorizes appropriations.
Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to: (1) revise the definition of "alternative fueled vehicle" to include medium or heavy duty hybrid vehicles for purposes of provisions requiring the acquisition of such vehicles for federal and state fleets; and (2) allow a credit to a fleet that, or covered person who, acquires certain electric drive vehicles. Authorizes appropriations.
Requires: (1) a market assessment to be made for electric drive transportation technologies and hybrid technologies; (2) a study of the implications of the use of plug-in electric vehicles and other types of electric transportation on the electric grid and on the production of electricity from renewable sources; and (3) the Secretary to provide grants to eligible electric utilities to conduct programs to encourage owners of electric drive transportation technologies to use off-peak electricity. Authorizes appropriations.
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to study, and report to Congress on, the benefits of and barriers to widespread use of plug-in hybrid electric drive vehicles and plug-in electric drive vehicles (city cars). Authorizes appropriations.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3239 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3239
To promote advanced plug-in hybrid vehicles and vehicle components.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 31, 2007
Mr. Boucher (for himself and Mr. Dingell) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and
in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform and
Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To promote advanced plug-in hybrid vehicles and vehicle components.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ADVANCED BATTERY LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment of Program.--The Secretary of Energy shall
establish a program to provide guarantees of loans by private
institutions for the construction of facilities for the manufacture of
advanced vehicle batteries and battery systems that are developed and
produced in the United States, including advanced lithium ion batteries
and hybrid electrical system and component manufacturers and software
designers.
(b) Requirements.--The Secretary may provide a loan guarantee under
subsection (a) to an applicant if--
(1) without a loan guarantee, credit is not available to
the applicant under reasonable terms or conditions sufficient
to finance the construction of a facility described in
subsection (a);
(2) the prospective earning power of the applicant and the
character and value of the security pledged provide a
reasonable assurance of repayment of the loan to be guaranteed
in accordance with the terms of the loan; and
(3) the loan bears interest at a rate determined by the
Secretary to be reasonable, taking into account the current
average yield on outstanding obligations of the United States
with remaining periods of maturity comparable to the maturity
of the loan.
(c) Criteria.--In selecting recipients of loan guarantees from
among applicants, the Secretary shall give preference to proposals
that--
(1) meet all applicable Federal and State permitting
requirements;
(2) are most likely to be successful; and
(3) are located in local markets that have the greatest
need for the facility.
(d) Maturity.--A loan guaranteed under subsection (a) shall have a
maturity of not more than 20 years.
(e) Terms and Conditions.--The loan agreement for a loan guaranteed
under subsection (a) shall provide that no provision of the loan
agreement may be amended or waived without the consent of the
Secretary.
(f) Assurance of Repayment.--The Secretary shall require that an
applicant for a loan guarantee under subsection (a) provide an
assurance of repayment in the form of a performance bond, insurance,
collateral, or other means acceptable to the Secretary in an amount
equal to not less than 20 percent of the amount of the loan.
(g) Guarantee Fee.--The recipient of a loan guarantee under
subsection (a) shall pay the Secretary an amount determined by the
Secretary to be sufficient to cover the administrative costs of the
Secretary relating to the loan guarantee.
(h) Full Faith and Credit.--The full faith and credit of the United
States is pledged to the payment of all guarantees made under this
section. Any such guarantee made by the Secretary shall be conclusive
evidence of the eligibility of the loan for the guarantee with respect
to principal and interest. The validity of the guarantee shall be
incontestable in the hands of a holder of the guaranteed loan.
(i) Reports.--Until each guaranteed loan under this section has
been repaid in full, the Secretary shall annually submit to Congress a
report on the activities of the Secretary under this section.
(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.
(k) Termination of Authority.--The authority of the Secretary to
issue a loan guarantee under subsection (a) terminates on the date that
is 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 2. DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING CONVERSION GRANT PROGRAM.
Section 712 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16062) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by inserting ``and components thereof'' after
``sales of efficient hybrid and advanced diesel
vehicles'';
(B) by inserting ``and hybrid component
manufacturers'' after ``grants to automobile
manufacturers'';
(C) by inserting ``, plug-in electric hybrid,''
after ``production of efficient hybrid'';
(D) by inserting ``and suppliers'' after
``automobile manufacturers''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following: ``Priority
shall be given to the refurbishment or retooling of
manufacturing facilities that have recently ceased
operation or will cease operation in the near
future.''; and
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Coordination With State and Local Programs.--The Secretary
may coordinate implementation of this section with State and local
programs designed to accomplish similar goals, including the retention
and retraining of skilled workers from the such manufacturing
facilities, including by establishing matching grant arrangements.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry
out this section.''.
SEC. 3. PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLE PROGRAM.
(a) Plug-In Electric Drive Vehicle Program.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy (in this
section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall establish a
competitive program to provide grants on a cost-shared basis to
State governments, local governments, metropolitan
transportation authorities, air pollution control districts,
private or nonprofit entities or combinations thereof, to carry
out a project or projects to encourage the use of plug-in
electric drive vehicles or other emerging electric vehicle
technologies, as determined by the Secretary.
(2) Administration.--The Secretary shall establish
requirements for applications for grants under this section,
including reporting of data to be summarized for dissemination
to the Department, other grantees, and the public, including
vehicle and component performance and vehicle and component
life cycle costs.
(3) Selection criteria.--
(A) Priority.--When making awards under this
subsection, the Secretary shall give priority
consideration to applications that encourage early
widespread utilization of such vehicles and are likely
to make a significant contribution to the advancement
of the production of such vehicles in the United
States.
(B) Scope of programs.--When making awards under
this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure that the
programs will maximize diversity in applications,
manufacturers, end-uses and vehicle control systems.
(4) Authorizations of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program
under this subsection, such sums as may be necessary.
(5) Certain applicants.--A battery manufacturer that
proposes to supply to an applicant for a grant under this
section a battery with a capacity of greater than 1 kilowatt-
hour for use in a plug-in electric drive vehicle shall--
(A) ensure that the applicant includes in the
application a description of the price of the battery
per kilowatt hour;
(B) on approval by the Secretary of the
application, publish, or permit the Secretary to
publish, the price described in subparagraph (A); and
(C) for any order received by the battery
manufacturer for at least 1,000 batteries, offer
batteries at that price.
(b) Electric Drive Education Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall develop a nationwide
electric drive transportation education program under which the
Secretary shall provide--
(A) teaching materials to secondary schools and
high schools; and
(B) assistance for programs relating to electric
drive system and component engineering to institutions
of higher education.
(2) Electric vehicle competition.--The program established
under paragraph (1) shall include a plug-in hybrid electric
vehicle competition for institutions of higher education, which
shall be known as the ``Dr. Andrew Frank Plug-In Hybrid
Electric Vehicle Competition''.
(3) Engineers.--In carrying out the program established
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide financial
assistance to institutions of higher education to create new,
or support existing, degree programs to ensure the availability
of trained electrical and mechanical engineers with the skills
necessary for the advancement of--
(A) plug-in electric drive vehicles; and
(B) other forms of electric drive vehicles.
(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this
subsection such sums as may be necessary.
SEC. 4. PLUG-IN HYBRID DEMONSTRATION VEHICLES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy shall establish a program
to make grants to owners of domestic motor vehicle manufacturing or
production facilities for the production of plug-in hybrid electric
motors or conversion modules to be used as electricity storage capacity
for utilities.
(b) Programs.--The Secretary of Energy shall establish programs to
determine how to best integrate plug-in hybrid vehicles into the
electric power grid and into the overall electricity infrastructure.
These programs shall be conducted in 5 separate regions across the
United States at the discretion of the Secretary.
(c) Pilot Programs.--The Secretary shall establish during the first
6 months of 2008, with other governmental entities, no less than 5
separate pilot programs to convert at least 1000 vehicles in each
program to plug-hybrid electric vehicles.
(d) Federal Contribution.--The Department of Energy shall
contribute up to 50 percent of the cost of conversion modules.
(e) Installation.--Installations of electricity storage devices
shall be undertaken by trained and certified mechanics.
(f) Monitoring.--The Secretary of Energy shall require the
monitoring of reliability, efficiency, breakeven costs, and customer
satisfaction for a period of 3 years.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry
out this section.
SEC. 5. INCENTIVE FOR FEDERAL AND STATE FLEETS FOR MEDIUM AND HEAVY
DUTY HYBRIDS.
Section 301 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13211) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or a dual fueled
vehicle'' and inserting ``, a dual fueled vehicle, or a medium
or heavy duty vehicle that is a hybrid vehicle'';
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (11), (12), (13), and (14)
as paragraphs (12), (14), (15), and (16), respectively;
(3) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following new
paragraph:
``(11) the term `hybrid vehicle' means a vehicle powered
both by a diesel or gasoline engine and an electric motor or
hydraulic energy storage device that is recharged as the
vehicle operates;''; and
(4) by inserting after paragraph (12) (as so redesignated
by paragraph (2) of this section) the following new paragraph:
``(13) the term `medium or heavy duty vehicle' means a
vehicle that--
``(A) in the case of a medium duty vehicle, has a
gross vehicle weight rating of more than 8,500 pounds
but not more than 14,000 pounds; and
``(B) in the case of a heavy duty vehicle, has a
gross vehicle weight rating of more than 14,000
pounds;''.
SEC. 6. INCLUSION OF ELECTRIC DRIVE IN ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 1992.
Section 508 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13258) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``The Secretary'' in subsection (a) and
inserting ``(1) The Secretary''; and
(2) by adding at the end of subsection (a) the following:
``(2) Not later than January 31, 2009, the Secretary shall allocate
credit in an amount to be determined by the Secretary for acquisition
of--
``(A) a hybrid electric vehicle;
``(B) a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle;
``(C) a fuel cell electric vehicle;
``(D) a neighborhood electric vehicle; or
``(E) a medium-duty or heavy-duty electric, hybrid
electric, hybrid hydraulic, or plug-in hybrid electric
vehicle.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Fuel cell electric vehicle.--The term `fuel cell
electric vehicle' means an on-road or nonroad vehicle that uses
a fuel cell (as defined in section 803 of the Spark M.
Matsunaga Hydrogen Research, Development, and Demonstration Act
of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16152)).
``(2) Hybrid electric vehicle.--The term `hybrid electric
vehicle' means a new qualified hybrid motor vehicle (as defined
in section 30B(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).
``(3) Medium-duty or heavy-duty electric, hybrid electric,
or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.--The term `medium-duty or
heavy-duty electric, hybrid electric, or plug-in hybrid
electric vehicle' is an electric, hybrid electric, or plug-in
hybrid electric motor vehicle greater than 8,501 pounds gross
vehicle rating.
``(4) Neighborhood electric vehicle.--The term
`neighborhood electric vehicle' means a 4-wheeled on-road or
nonroad vehicle, with a top attainable speed in 1 mile of more
than 20 mph and not more than 25 mph on a paved level surface,
that is propelled by an electric motor and on board,
rechargeable energy storage system that is rechargeable using
an off-board source of electricity.
``(5) Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.--The term `plug-in
hybrid electric vehicle' means a light-duty, medium-duty, or
heavy-duty on-road or nonroad vehicle that is propelled by any
combination of--
``(A) an electric motor and on-board, rechargeable
energy storage system capable of operating the vehicle
in intermittent or continuous all-electric mode and
which is rechargeable using an off-board source of
electricity; and
``(B) an internal combustion engine or heat engine
using any combustible fuel.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary for
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013.''.
SEC. 7. NEAR-TERM ELECTRIC DRIVE TRANSPORTATION DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM.
(a) Revolving Loan Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a revolving
loan program to provide loans to eligible entities for the
conduct of qualified electric transportation projects.
(2) Criteria.--The Secretary shall establish criteria for
the provision of loans under this subsection.
(b) Market Assessment and Electricity Usage Program.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary and
private industry, shall carry out a program--
(A) to inventory and analyze existing electric
drive transportation technologies and hybrid
technologies and markets; and
(B) to identify and implement methods of removing
barriers for existing and emerging applications of
electric drive transportation technologies and hybrid
transportation technologies.
(2) Electricity usage.--The Secretary, in consultation with
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and
private industry, shall carry out a program--
(A) to develop systems and processes--
(i) to enable plug-in electric vehicles to
enhance the availability of emergency back-up
power for consumers; and
(ii) to study and demonstrate the potential
value to the electric grid of using the energy
stored in the on-board storage systems to
improve the efficiency of the grid generation
system; and
(B) to work with utilities and other interested
stakeholders to study and demonstrate the implications
of the introduction of plug-in electric vehicles and
other types of electric transportation on the
production of electricity from renewable resources.
(3) Off-peak electricity usage grants.--In carrying out the
program under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall provide grants
to assist eligible public and private electric utilities to
conduct programs or activities to encourage owners of electric
drive transportation technologies--
(A) to use off-peak electricity; or
(B) to have the load managed by the utility.
(c) Definition of Qualified Electric Transportation Project.--In
this section, the term ``qualified electric transportation project''
includes a project relating to--
(1) ship-side or shore-side electrification for vessels;
(2) truck-stop electrification;
(3) electric truck refrigeration units;
(4) battery-powered auxiliary power units for trucks;
(5) electric airport ground support equipment;
(6) electric material/cargo handling equipment;
(7) electric or dual-mode electric freight rail;
(8) any distribution upgrades needed to supply electricity
to the qualified electric transportation projects; and
(9) any ancillary infrastructure, including panel upgrades,
battery chargers, in-situ transformer, and trenching.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to carry
this section such sums as may be necessary.
SEC. 8. STUDYING THE BENEFITS OF PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC DRIVE VEHICLES
AND ELECTRIC DRIVE TRANSPORTATION.
(a) Study.--
(1) City cars.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transportation in
consultation with the Secretary of Energy and appropriate
Federal agencies and interested stakeholders in the public,
private and non-profit sectors, shall study and report to
Congress on the benefits of and barriers to the widespread use
of a potentially new class of vehicles known as city cars with
performance capability that exceeds that of low speed vehicles
but is less than that of passenger vehicles, and which may be
battery electric, fuel cell electric, or plug-in hybrid
electric vehicles. Such study shall examine the benefits and
issues associated with limiting city cars to a maximum speed of
35 mph, 45 mph, 55 mph, or any other maximum speed, and make a
recommendation regarding maximum speed.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--Such sums as may be
necessary are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
subsection.
(b) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) Nonroad vehicle.--The term ``nonroad vehicle'' has the
meaning given that term in section 216 of the Clean Air Act (42
U.S.C. 7550), or vehicles of the same classification that are
fully or partially powered by an electric motor powered by a
fuel cell, a battery, or an off-board source of electricity.
(2) Plug-in electric drive vehicle.--The term ``plug-in
electric drive vehicle'' means a means a light-duty, medium-
duty, or heavy-duty on-road or nonroad battery electric, hybrid
or fuel cell vehicle that can be recharged from an external
electricity source for motive power.
(3) Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.--The term ``plug-in
hybrid electric vehicle'' means a light-duty, medium-duty, or
heavy-duty on-road or nonroad vehicle that is propelled by any
combination of--
(A) an electric motor and on-board, rechargeable
energy storage system capable of operating the vehicle
in intermittent or continuous all-electric mode and
which is rechargeable using an off-board source of
electricity; and
(B) an internal combustion engine or heat engine
using any combustible fuel.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 110-307, Part I.
Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 110-307, Part I.
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Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.
Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.
Committee on Science and Technology discharged.
Committee on Science and Technology discharged.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 194.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.