[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 50 (Thursday, March 27, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E604-E606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCING THE SECURING TRANSPORTATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR TOMORROW 
                                  ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES L. OBERSTAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 27, 2003

  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, today I have introduced the ``Securing 
Transportation Energy Efficiency for Tomorrow Act'' (the STREET ACT). 
This bill recognizes the close connection between transportation policy 
and energy policy. In many respects, transportation policy is energy 
policy. Our transportation energy needs are increasing, but we have not 
done enough to be able to meet these needs with new technologies and 
alternative fuels. As a result, our dependence on foreign oil continues 
unabated.
  Today, the transportation sector consumes a greater share of 
petroleum (66 percent) than it did in 1973 (50 percent). Each year for 
the past two decades, energy use in the transportation sector has 
increased by a rate of 1.5 percent. It is time, indeed it is long 
overdue, for the Federal Government to lead in the development and 
promotion of energy efficient technologies and alternative and 
renewable fuels.
  As the Nation's largest energy consumer, the Federal Government is in 
a unique position to promote energy conservation and efficiency, 
particularly in the transportation sector and in the operation of 
Federal buildings. The STREET ACT ensures that the Government does just 
that. The bill authorizes more than

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$2 billion to promote greater energy efficiency and further the 
development and use of alternative and renewable fuels on our highways, 
railroads, airplanes, ships, and in our Federal buildings.
  For example, the bill provides for the use of photovoltaic solar 
energy systems (photovoltaics) in our Federal buildings. Photovoltaics 
reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and offer distinct advantages 
over diesel generators and primary batteries. They are highly efficient 
and have no moving parts, so the need for maintenance is virtually non-
existent. Over twenty-five Federal buildings throughout the country, 
from Boston, Massachusetts to San Francisco, California, already use 
photovoltaics to great effect. This bill seeks to fulfill the promise 
of the Million Solar Roofs Initiative of 1997 of having photovoltaic 
solar energy systems installed in 20,000 of our Federal buildings by 
2010.
  In addition, the bill authorizes the Economic Development 
Administration (EDA) to make grants for the development of brightfield 
sites. Brightfields are brownfield sites, i.e., abandoned or 
contaminated property sites, which are redeveloped using solar energy 
technologies. Brightfields are being successfully developed across the 
country. This bill allows the EDA to contribute to this development by 
providing assistance to economically distressed communities so that 
they can redevelop contaminated or abandoned property. Making these 
properties viable for commercial use can significantly improve the 
economic opportunities in the area where the brightfield site is 
located.
  The bill also provides for the development and deployment of new 
technologies to create cleaner, more fuel-efficient engines for use in 
all modes of transportation including on rail, in water, and in the 
air. The bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to enter into 
public-private partnerships with universities and industry leaders to 
promote the development of cleaner, more fuel-efficient engines for our 
Nation's railroads, ships, and airplanes. These clean engines would 
help reduce ozone-forming emissions and would be especially significant 
in areas of nonattainment. Research on many of these projects has 
already begun, and this bill ensures that the Federal Government 
remains committed to the development and deployment of these promising 
new technologies.
  To promote the use of cleaner energy on our Nation's highways, the 
bill establishes a grant program by which the Department of 
Transportation can make up to ten grants for the development and 
demonstration of fuel cell-powered buses. Heavy-duty vehicles, which 
include buses, account for only 6 percent of the total vehicle 
population, but generate 60 percent of nitrogen oxide emissions and 
over 80 percent of all particulate matter emissions. Fuel cell buses 
would reduce pollution on our roads through the use of a clean, 
environmentally-friendly energy source and would help reduce our 
dependence on foreign oil. Further, we are falling behind other 
Nation's in the development of these technologies. While there are a 
few prototype buses currently being tested in this country, the 
European Union has stated its goal of deploying 30 buses for revenue 
use in ten European cities by the close of this year. We cannot cede 
another transportation technology to our foreign competitors. We should 
lead the world in the research, development, and deployment of fuel 
cell bus technology.

  In addition, the bill provides a $75 transportation fringe benefit to 
employees who commute to work by bicycling, carpooling or car-sharing. 
Currently, employees who drive to work can receive a $190 per month 
parking benefit and employees who use transit can receive up to $100 
per month. This bill represents a first step in extending those 
benefits to citizens who choose to promote energy conservation while 
commuting to and from their jobs.
  Mr. Speaker, the war with Iraq has once again focused our attention 
on the need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It is time to make 
a real and lasting commitment to the development of these new 
technologies and the use of alternative and renewable fuel that can 
help make America more self-sufficient in meeting her energy needs. We 
have the means available; the place to begin is with the Federal 
government and with this bill.
  A detailed summary of the bill's provisions is attached.

Securing Transportation Energy Efficiency for Tomorrow Act of 2003 (The 
                              Street Act)

  The Securing Transportation Energy Efficiency for Tomorrow Act (the 
STREET Act) recognizes the connection between energy policy and 
transportation policy and the importance of utilizing new technologies 
and alternative fuels to meet our transportation energy needs. The 
STREET Act promotes the Federal Government's leadership in the 
development and utilization of alternative and renewable fuels in the 
transportation sector and in the operation of Federal buildings. Our 
Nation's energy needs are increasing. Energy use in the transportation 
sector alone has increased by a rate of 1.5 percent each year for the 
past two decades. The vast majority of that energy (approximately 99 
percent) comes from traditional fuels. Today, the transportation sector 
consumes a greater share of petroleum (66 percent) than it did in 1973 
(50 percent).
  As the Nation's largest energy consumer, the Federal Government is in 
a unique position to promote energy efficiency and the use of 
alternative and renewable fuels. The STREET Act authorizes more than $2 
billion in federal funds to promote greater energy efficiency in our 
transportation sector and our Federal buildings, and to further the 
development and use of alternative and renewable fuels in our highways, 
our railroads, our airplanes, our ships, and in our Federal buildings.


               economic development and public buildings

  Photovoltaic Solar Energy Systems for Public Buildings. Amends the 
Public Buildings Act of 1959 to authorize the Administrator of General 
Services to establish a photovoltaic energy commercialization program 
for the procurement and installation of photovoltaic solar energy 
systems for electric production in new and existing public buildings. 
The purposes of this section include a reduction in fossil fuel 
consumption and attainment of the goal of installing 20,000 
solar energy systems in federal public buildings set forth in the 
Federal Government's Million Solar Roof Initiative of 1997. The bill 
authorizes approximately $1.3 billion over 5 years for this program.

  Capitol Complex Energy Efficiency. Authorizes the Architect of the 
Capitol to conduct a study to evaluate the energy infrastructure of the 
Capitol complex to determine ways to increase energy efficiency 
including the use of photovoltaic solar energy systems, district 
heating, and other unconventional and renewable energy resources. The 
bill authorizes such sums as may be necessary for this study.
  Brightfields. Amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 
1965 to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to carry out a 
demonstration grant program for the development of brightfield sites. 
Brightfield sites are defined as brownfield sites that are redeveloped 
using solar energy technologies. The bill authorizes $200 million over 
5 years for this grant program.


                         surface transportation

  Highway Fuel Conservation. Establishes a grant program through which 
the Secretary of Transportation may provide grants to States and local 
governments for projects designed to make operational improvements to 
reduce fuel consumption on Federal-aid highways and roads, including 
data collection and analysis for improved traffic signal timing, 
implementation of improved and coordinated traffic signals, and 
planning and implementation of freeway management systems. The bill 
authorizes $200 million over 5 years for this grant program.
  Fuel Cell Bus Technology. Amends Section 5308, Title 49 of the United 
States Code to allow the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to 
up to 10 recipients for the research and development of fuel cell bus 
technology. Preference is given to grant applicants who have an 
existing fuel cell bus technology program and have made investments in 
hydrogen fuel cell infrastructure. The bill authorizes $300 million 
over 5 years for this grant program.
  Conserve by Bicycling. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to 
establish a pilot program that would provide funding for up to 10 
geographically dispersed projects to encourage the use of bicycles in 
place of motor vehicles. The bill authorizes $10 million for this 
program.
  Energy Impacts. Requires that environmental impact statements 
prepared for Federal-aid highway and transit projects quantify and 
consider energy impacts as an environmental consequence of the project. 
Currently, Federal Highway Administration guidelines state that energy 
impacts should be considered as one of 25 environmental consequences in 
an EIS. However, the guidelines state that ``except for large projects, 
a detailed energy analysis . . . is not needed.'' As a consequence, the 
energy impact of smaller-scale projects is often not quantified and not 
thoroughly considered. This section remedies that by requiring that all 
Federal-aid highway and transit projects quantify and consider energy 
impacts.
  Extension of Transportation Fringe Benefits. Amends section 1320(f) 
of the Internal Revenue Code to include as a transportation fringe 
benefit that is excludable from an employee's gross income, a $75 
commuting allowance for employees who commute to work by bicycling, 
carpooling or car-sharing.
  Railroad Efficiency. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, in 
conjunction with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency, to establish a public-private research partnership to develop 
and demonstrate locomotive technologies that increase fuel economy, 
reduce emissions, and lower costs. The bill authorizes $105 million 
over 3 years for this program.

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                                aviation

  Clean Airport Bus Pilot Program. Directs the Secretary of 
Transportation to establish a pilot grants award program for the 
acquisition of buses powered by alternative fuels and low-sulfur diesel 
fuel at public airports through airport bus replacement and fleet 
expansion grants. Grants are to be used to purchase buses powered by 
alternative fuels and low-sulfur diesel fuel to be used as part of the 
airport fleet for a minimum of 5 years and, to the extent possible, 
grants are to be awarded to ensure a broad geographic distribution with 
no State receiving more than 10 percent of the available grant funding. 
The bill authorizes $200 million over 5 years for this grant program.

  Clean Aircraft Engines. Authorizes the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration to establish a public-private research 
partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 
research universities, and members of the aero-propulsion industry to 
develop a clean ground demonstrator engine utilizing technologies 
developed by NASA and to focus on the development and certification of 
environmentally friendly manufacturing technologies, materials, and 
overhaul and repair. The bill authorizes such sums as may be necessary 
for the establishment of this public-private partnership.


                            water resources

  Marine Efficiency. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to 
establish a public-private research partnership with the Federal 
Government, vessel operators, ports, terminal operators, shipyards, and 
equipment suppliers to develop and demonstrate technologies that 
increase fuel economy, reduce emissions, and lower costs of marine 
transportation and increase the efficiency of intermodal transfers. The 
bill authorizes such sums as may be necessary for the establishment of 
this public-private partnership.
  Improving Hydropower Capabilities. Directs the Secretary of the Army 
to study the potential for reduced fossil fuel consumption through an 
increase in U.S. hydropower capabilities at dams owned or operated by 
the Corps of Engineers.
  Encouragement of Prohibitions on Great Lakes Off-Shore Drilling. 
Contains a finding by Congress that environmental dangers associated 
with off-shore drilling in the Great Lakes for oil and gas outweigh the 
potential benefits of such drilling and encourages the Great Lake 
states to continue to prohibit off-shore drilling for oil and gas where 
such prohibitions already exist and to enact a prohibition of such 
drilling where one does not yet exist.

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