Clean Cities Program Authorization Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to carry out a Clean Cities program, as a partnership between government and industry, to encourage and accelerate the use of non-petroleum based fuels, alternative fuel vehicles, and other advanced vehicle technologies and practices that achieve significant reduction in the overall use of petroleum in the transportation sector.
Requires the program to: (1) promote the establishment of vehicle and infrastructure projects that incorporate petroleum reduction technologies, including educational efforts on the benefits and advantages of using alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles; (2) provide training, technical assistance, and tools to end-users that adopt petroleum reduction technologies; (3) collaborate with and train fire officials, emergency first responders, and safety code officials; (4) undertake coordinating efforts between federal, local, and state agencies and the alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicle industry; (5) facilitate the development of necessary refueling and service support infrastructure for petroleum reduction technologies; and (6) develop Internet-based tools and resources for the education and training of consumers and program stakeholders.
Authorizes the Secretary to provide grants to local and state government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicle stakeholders who are working with Clean Cities coalitions to support the deployment and use of alternative fuels and petroleum reduction technologies in on-road vehicles.
Directs the Secretary to encourage and support the voluntary formation of local Clean Cities organizations around the country.
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3488 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3488
To direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out the Clean Cities
program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 31, 2009
Mr. Israel (for himself, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Sullivan, Mrs. Bono Mack, Mr.
Boren, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Delahunt, Mr. Klein of Florida, Mr. Higgins, Mr.
Bartlett, Ms. Schwartz, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin,
Mr. Langevin, Mr. Holt, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Sires, Mr.
Carnahan, Mr. Inslee, Mr. Welch, Mr. Tonko, Ms. Sutton, Mr. Massa, Mr.
Serrano, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. Bishop of New York, Mr. Wittman,
Mr. Engel, and Mrs. Capps) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out the Clean Cities
program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Clean Cities Program Authorization
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) More than two-thirds of all petroleum used in the
United States for transportation is imported petroleum.
(2) In 1993, to make the United States economically secure,
to lessen petroleum dependence, and to reduce tailpipe and
greenhouse gas emissions, the Department of Energy established
the Clean Cities program.
(3) The program, a partnership between public and private
entities, is now the Department of Energy's flagship
transportation deployment and petroleum fuel reduction program.
(4) The program is based on the concept that Federal
support can empower local citizens and organizations to become
the leaders of a national movement for change.
(5) The program established a national network of nearly 90
coalitions comprised of local partnerships located in
communities representing three-quarters of the population of
the United States, with nearly 5,700 stakeholders from local
businesses, State and local governments, the transportation
industry, community organizations, and alternative fuel
providers.
(6) In the past 10 years, the program has provided
$43,000,000 in competitive grant funds, which were leveraged
into $214,000,000 in matching funds from other organizations,
and the coalitions stretched these dollars even further by
obtaining an additional $845,000,000 in funding since 1993.
(7) Marking more than 15 years of progress, the Clean
Cities program coalitions have reduced petroleum use by more
than 2,000,000,000 gallons, placed 500,000 alternative fuel
vehicles on the road, established alternative fuel
infrastructure in thousands of strategic locations, and moved
alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles into the
mainstream.
(8) The program is ideally positioned to lead the United
States toward a clean, secure, and environmentally friendly
transportation future.
SEC. 3. CLEAN CITIES PROGRAM.
(a) Authorization.--The Secretary of Energy shall carry out the
Clean Cities program to encourage and accelerate the use of non-
petroleum based fuels, alternative fuel vehicles, and other advanced
vehicle technologies and practices that achieve significant reduction
in the overall use of petroleum in the transportation sector. Such
program shall be a partnership between government and industry.
(b) Program Requirements.--The program under subsection (a) shall--
(1) promote the establishment of vehicle and infrastructure
projects that incorporate petroleum reduction technologies, and
include educational efforts to inform the public and government
officials on the benefits and advantages of using alternative
fuels and advanced technology vehicles technologies;
(2) provide training, technical assistance, and tools to
end-users that adopt petroleum reduction technologies;
(3) collaborate with and train fire officials, emergency
first responders, and safety code officials;
(4) undertake coordinating efforts between Federal, local,
and State agencies and the alternative fuel and advanced
technology vehicle industry;
(5) facilitate the development of necessary refueling and
service support infrastructure for petroleum reduction
technologies; and
(6) develop Internet-based tools and resources for the
education and training of consumers and Clean Cities program
stakeholders.
(c) Assistance Awards.--Under the program, the Secretary may
provide direct financial assistance grants to local and State
government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and alternative fuel and
advanced technology vehicle stakeholders who are working with Clean
Cities coalitions. These grants shall support the deployment and use of
alternative fuels and petroleum reduction technologies in on-road
vehicles.
(d) Coalition Formation.--In carrying out the Clean Cities program
the Secretary shall encourage and support the voluntary formation of
local Clean Cities' organizations around the country. These local
organizations shall be made up of State and local government officials
and also include vehicle owners and operators, fuel and service
providers, automobile dealers, community service organizations, and
other private and public stakeholders interested in pursuing aggressive
petroleum reduction goals in the transportation sector.
(e) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Alternative fuels.--The term ``alternative fuels'' has
the meaning given such term in section 301(2) of the Energy
Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13211(2)).
(2) Alterative fueled vehicles.--The term ``alternative
fueled vehicles'' has the meaning given such term in section
301(3) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13211(3)).
(3) Program.--The term ``program'' means the Clean Cities
program.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying
out this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated $125,000,000 for
the 5-fiscal-year period beginning in fiscal year 2010.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
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