[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5256 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5256
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
carry out a pilot program to award grants for the electrification of
certain refrigerated vehicles, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 22, 2019
Ms. Clarke of New York (for herself, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms.
Tlaib, and Ms. Roybal-Allard) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
carry out a pilot program to award grants for the electrification of
certain refrigerated vehicles, 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 ``Fostering and Realizing
Electrification by Encouraging Zero Emission Refrigeration Trucks Act
of 2019'' or the ``FREEZER Trucks Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO AWARD GRANTS FOR THE ELECTRIFICATION OF
CERTAIN REFRIGERATED VEHICLES.
(a) Establishment of Pilot Program.--The Administrator shall
establish and carry out a pilot program to award grants, on a
competitive basis, to eligible entities to carry out projects described
in subsection (b).
(b) Projects.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under
subsection (a) may use grant funds only for one or more of the
following projects:
(1) Transport refrigeration unit replacement.--A project to
retrofit a heavy-duty vehicle by replacing the existing diesel-
powered transport refrigeration unit in such vehicle with an
electric transport refrigeration unit.
(2) Shore power infrastructure.--A project to purchase and
install shore power infrastructure or other equipment that
enables transport refrigeration units to connect to electric
power at food service distribution centers or other places
where heavy-duty vehicles congregate.
(3) Transport refrigeration unit operation and
maintenance.--A project to operate and maintain vehicles,
infrastructure, or equipment relating to electric transport
refrigeration units and associated shore power, including any
such vehicles, infrastructure, or equipment acquired as part of
a project funded under this section and described in paragraph
(1) or paragraph (2).
(c) Maximum Amounts.--The amount of a grant awarded under
subsection (a) shall not exceed--
(1) for the costs of a project relating to transport
refrigeration unit replacement described in subsection (b)(1),
not more than 75 percent of such costs;
(2) for the costs of a project relating to shore power
infrastructure described in subsection (b)(2), not more than 55
percent of such costs; and
(3) for the costs of a project relating to transport
refrigeration unit operation and maintenance described in
subsection (b)(3), not more than 45 percent of such costs.
(d) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
subsection (a), an eligible entity shall submit to the Administrator--
(1) a description of the air quality in the area served by
the eligible entity, including a description of how the air
quality is affected by diesel emissions from heavy-duty
vehicles;
(2) a description of the project proposed by the eligible
entity, including--
(A) any verified technology or emerging technology
to be used or funded by the eligible entity; and
(B) a description of the heavy-duty vehicle fleet
of the eligible entity, including--
(i) the number of such vehicles;
(ii) the uses of such vehicles;
(iii) the locations where such vehicles
dock for the purpose of loading or unloading;
and
(iv) the routes driven by such vehicles,
including the times at which such vehicles are
driven;
(3) an estimate of the cost of the proposed project;
(4) a description of the age and expected lifetime control
of the equipment used or funded by the eligible entity; and
(5) provisions for the monitoring and verification of the
project.
(e) Priority.--In awarding grants under subsection (a), the
Administrator shall give priority to proposed projects that, as
determined by the Administrator--
(1) maximize public health benefits;
(2) are the most cost-effective; and
(3) will serve the communities that are most polluted by
diesel motor emissions, including communities that the
Administrator identifies as being in either nonattainment or
maintenance of the national ambient air quality standards for a
criteria pollutant, particularly for--
(A) ozone; and
(B) particulate matter.
(f) Data Release.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which a
grant is made under this section, the Administrator shall publish on
the website of the Environmental Protection Agency, on a downloadable
electronic database, information with respect to such grant,
including--
(1) the name and location of the grant recipient;
(2) the total amount of the grant;
(3) the intended use or uses of the grant;
(4) the date on which the grant was awarded;
(5) where applicable, an estimate of any air pollution or
greenhouse gas emissions avoided as a result of the project
funded by the grant; and
(6) any other data the Administrator determines to be
necessary for an evaluation of the use and effect of grants
awarded under this section.
(g) Reports to Congress.--
(1) Annual report to congress.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of the establishment of the pilot program under this
section, and annually thereafter until funding is expended, the
Administrator shall submit to Congress and make available to
the public a report that describes, with respect to the
applicable year--
(A) any grant applications received under such
program;
(B) any grants awarded under such program,
including a summary of the data described in subsection
(f);
(C) the effect of any awarded grants on air
pollution and greenhouse gas emissions; and
(D) any other data the Administrator determines to
be necessary to describe the implementation, outcomes,
or effectiveness of such program.
(2) Final report.--Not later than 1 year after funding for
the pilot program under this section is expended, or five years
after such program is established, whichever comes first, the
Administrator shall submit to Congress and make available to
the public a report that describes--
(A) all of the information collected for the annual
reports under paragraph (1);
(B) any benefits to the environment or human health
that could result from the widespread application of
electric transport refrigeration units for short-haul
transportation and delivery of perishable goods,
including in low-income communities and communities of
color;
(C) any challenges or benefits that recipients of
grants under such program reported with respect to the
integration or use of electric transport refrigeration
units and associated technologies;
(D) an assessment of the national market potential
for electric transport refrigeration units;
(E) an assessment of challenges and opportunities
for widespread deployment of electric transport
refrigeration units, including in urban areas; and
(F) recommendations for how future Federal, State,
and local programs can best support the adoption and
widespread deployment of electric transport
refrigeration units.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Diesel-powered transport refrigeration unit.--The term
``diesel-powered transport refrigeration unit'' means a
transport refrigeration unit that is powered by an independent
diesel internal combustion engine.
(3) Electric transport refrigeration unit.--The term
``electric transport refrigeration unit'' means a transport
refrigeration unit in which the compressor of the refrigeration
system is driven by an electric motor all or some of the time,
including all-electric transport refrigeration units, hybrid
electric transport refrigeration units, and standby electric
transport refrigeration units.
(4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a regional, State, local, or Tribal agency or
port authority with jurisdiction over transportation or
air quality;
(B) a nonprofit organization or institution that--
(i) represents or provides pollution
reduction or educational services to persons or
organizations that own or operate diesel
fleets; or
(ii) has, as its principal purpose, the
promotion of air quality;
(C) any individual or entity that is the owner of
record of a diesel vehicle or fleet which operates for
the transportation and delivery of perishable goods;
(D) any individual or entity that is the owner of
record of a facility which operates as a warehouse or
storage facility for perishable goods; and
(E) any hospital or public health institution which
utilizes refrigeration for storage of perishable goods.
(5) Heavy-duty vehicle.--The term ``heavy-duty vehicle''
means--
(A) a commercial truck or van--
(i) used for the primary purpose of
transporting perishable goods; and
(ii) with a gross vehicle weight rating
greater than 6,000 pounds; or
(B) an insulated cargo trailer used in transporting
temperature sensitive goods when mounted on a
semitrailer.
(6) Shore power infrastructure.--The term ``shore power
infrastructure'' means electrical infrastructure that provides
power to the electric transport refrigeration unit of a heavy-
duty vehicle when such vehicle is stationary.
(7) Transport refrigeration unit.--The term ``transport
refrigeration unit'' means a refrigeration system installed on
a heavy-duty vehicle for the purpose of cooling perishable or
temperature-sensitive goods.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000, to remain available
until expended.
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