I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 580 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 15, 2009 Mr. Israel (for himself and Mr. Inslee) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL To amend the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to require the Federal Government to acquire not fewer than 100,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Purchasing Low-Emission Vehicles for Use in Government (PLUG) Act.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)According to the Energy Information Administration, 70 percent of all petroleum consumed in the United States in 2007 was used in the transportation sector. (2)According to the Department of Energy, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can significantly reduce fuel use and costs, increase our energy security and protect the environment. (3)Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles achieve better gas mileage than standard hybrid vehicles through the use of a larger battery that can be recharged by plugging the battery into a standard home electrical outlet. (4)Significant strides have been made in the research and development of battery technology for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

3.

Inclusion of plug-In hybrid electric vehicles in federal fleet requirement

(a)

In general

Section 303(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13212(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (4)In meeting the requirements of paragraph (1)(D), the Secretary, with the cooperation of the heads of other appropriate agencies, shall ensure that the Federal Government acquires not fewer than 100,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles manufactured in the United States by entities incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States. The Federal Government shall acquire such vehicles during the 5-fiscal-year period beginning after the date on which the Secretary determines that such vehicles are commercially available. . (b)

Definition of plug-In hybrid electric vehicle

Section 301 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13211) is amended— (1)by striking and at the end of paragraph (13); (2)by striking the period at the end of paragraph (14) and inserting ; and; and (3)by adding at the end the following: (15)the term plug-in hybrid electric vehicle means a light duty vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine or heat engine using— (A)a combustible fuel; (B)an on-board, rechargeable storage device; and (C)a device that collects electricity from an off-board source. .