[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 13 (Wednesday, February 9, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E192-E194]
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

                      Wednesday, February 9, 2005

  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 (67 percent) than it did in 1973 (50 percent). Each year for 
the past decade, energy use in the transportation sector has increased 
by a rate of 1.6 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 by promoting greater energy efficiency and further developing the 
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. Photovoltaics are highly 
efficient and have no moving parts, so the need for maintenance is 
virtually non-existent. Over 25 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 President Clinton's Million Solar Roofs Initiative of 
1997 of having photovoltaic solar energy systems installed in 20,000 of 
our Federal buildings by 2010.

  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

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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.
  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 $200 per month 
parking benefit and employees who use transit can receive up to $105 
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, 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 this Nation more self-suff1cient in 
meeting our 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 2005 (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 1.6 percent each year for the past decade. The vast 
     majority of that energy (approximately 97 percent) comes from 
     traditional fuels. Today, the transportation sector consumes 
     a greater share of petroleum (67 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 promotes greater energy efficiency in our 
     transportation sector and our Federal buildings and furthers 
     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 the General Services Administration 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 
     $300 million over 5 years for this program. This section also 
     authorizes $14 million for the Administrator of the 
     General Services Administration to install photovoltaics 
     in accordance with the Sun Wall Design Project on the 
     headquarters building of the Department of Energy.
       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.


                         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 such sums as may be necessary to 
     carry out this program.
       Fuel Cell Bus Technology. Amends Section 5308, Tide 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 scale 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 
     132(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, caroling 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.


                                Aviation

       Clean Airport Bus Pilot Program. Directs the Secretary of 
     Transportation to establish a pilot 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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