[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 93 (Wednesday, June 26, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5269-S5272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Ms. Stabenow):
  S. 1230. A bill to reduce oil consumption and improve energy 
security, and

[[Page S5270]]

for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today Senator Stabenow and I are 
introducing legislation designed to reduce our dependence on oil in the 
transportation sector by replacing it with cleaner, domestic sources of 
energy to power our cars, trucks, buses, tractors, and ships. Until 
very recently, our nation was dependent upon foreign, often unstable 
governments for its energy supply--particularly for the oil that fuels 
our transport--70 percent of which was imported from overseas. Now, 
recent advances in drilling technologies have uncovered abundant 
domestic energy resources and it is predicted that the U.S. will be a 
net oil and gas exporter in the near future. Today, we are introducing 
legislation that builds on our introduction of a similar bill last 
Congress which was approved by Committee, our continual work with a 
broad array of stakeholders and the feedback received during the series 
of natural gas forums held by the Energy and Natural Resources 
Committee. Those forums served as a reminder of the great opportunity 
no one imagined we'd have even a few years ago, of being able to chart 
our own energy future rather than relying on other countries or single 
technologies to drive our economy forward.
  While the natural gas forums served as a reminder, it is crucial that 
we don't just supplant reliance on oil for reliance on another single 
resource or technology. At the end of the day, different fuels are 
going to work better in different types of vehicles and in different 
parts of the country. For that reason, our bill does not pick 
technology winners and losers. It is ``technology neutral,'' 
``geography neutral'' and ``market neutral.'' An alternative fuel that 
is readily available in one part of the country may not be readily 
available in every part of the country, or it may not work as well in 
an 18 wheel tractor-trailer as in the family car. Our bill does not 
choose which fuel is used where, or for what kinds of vehicles. We 
leave that up to the free market so that fuel providers and vehicle 
manufacturers can compete for what works best for their customers. This 
bill brings us closer to the day when conventional gas stations give 
way to the ``Fueling Station of the Future'' where consumers will have 
the option to choose between whichever fuel serves their needs.
  Energy legislation, including the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the 
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, have instituted a number 
of programs at the Department of Energy and the Environmental 
Protection Agency to address the need to strengthen our energy security 
by replacing a significant portion of the oil Americans use for 
transportation with alternative fuels such as electricity, natural gas, 
propane, biofuels, and hydrogen. However, these programs currently fail 
to provide workable solutions for many of the obstacles alternative 
fuels suppliers and alternative fuel vehicles manufacturers face when 
attempting to get their technologies to market.
  Modifying these existing programs--and bolstering them with cohesive 
policies enshrined in law to make them more useful for potential 
applicants--will help our nation exploit our newfound abundant energy 
resources, target climate change by incentivizing more widespread use 
of cleaner transportation fuels, and create jobs by catalyzing new 
businesses in the diverse alternative fuel and alternative fuel 
vehicles sector.
  Our bottom line goal is to help American businesses, which build 
vehicles and supply fuel, provide genuine alternatives to conventional 
fuels and engine technologies so that Americans can reduce our 
dependence on oil as a transportation fuel. The bill does this by 
providing a set of tools to promote the deployment of these 
technologies. In several instances, the bill modifies existing 
programs, rather than creating new ones.
  First, the bill takes the existing advanced vehicle manufacturing 
support program at the Department of Energy, which is now focused on 
providing financial support to major manufacturers of light duty 
vehicles, and opens it up to alternative fuel technologies. It also 
expands the program to component manufacturers further down the supply 
chain and to the production of medium and heavy trucks, buses, and 
transit vehicles and lifts the cap on the amount of loans that can be 
made to American manufacturers and their suppliers.
  Alternative fuel vehicles need alternative fuel. So the next major 
initiative in the bill is to provide financial support for the 
production and distribution of those alternative fuels. Again, instead 
of creating a whole new program to support this alternative fuel 
infrastructure, the bill modifies the existing clean energy Department 
of Energy loan guarantee program created in section 1703 of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005. This loan program was aimed at financing new, 
innovative low-carbon electricity generation technologies. That is all 
well and good, but those investments do not address the very real 
energy security challenge facing our country from oil imports, 
especially since so little electricity in the U.S. is actually 
generated using oil. Our bill would allow this already existing program 
to be used for alternative fuel infrastructure.
  The bill includes additional measures to provide technical assistance 
to States, local and tribal governments, public-private partnerships, 
and utility companies and utility commissions to help overcome barriers 
to the deployment of these alternative fuel vehicles. The bill further 
provides worker training provisions to ensure our nation has a skilled 
workforce capable of making the goals of this bill a reality. Taken 
altogether, these provisions are designed to provide the tools for 
manufacturers, parts suppliers, fuel providers, transportation 
planners, utility regulators, and State, local, and tribal officials to 
deploy alternative fuel vehicles, and the fuels to power them, in 
numbers that make a difference and truly reduce our dependence on 
imported oil.
  Our bill has broad support from industry groups and has been endorsed 
by the Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers, Natural Gas Vehicles for 
America, Global Automakers, the American Public Gas Association, Drive 
Oregon, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and the 
Electric Drive Transportation Association. We ask our colleagues to 
stand with us in support of this bill.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1230

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the 
     ``Alternative Fueled Vehicles Competitiveness and Energy 
     Security Act of 2013''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Loan guarantees for alternative fuel infrastructure.
Sec. 4. Advanced technology vehicles manufacturing incentive program.
Sec. 5. Conventional fuel replacement calculation and assessment.
Sec. 6. Technical assistance and coordination.
Sec. 7. Workforce training.
Sec. 8. Reduction of engine idling and conventional fuel consumption.
Sec. 9. Electric, hydrogen, and natural gas utility and oil pipeline 
              participation.
Sec. 10. Federal fleets.
Sec. 11. HOV lane access extension.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Alternative fuel.--The term ``alternative fuel'' has 
     the meaning given the term in section 301 of the Energy 
     Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13211).
       (2) Alternative fueled vehicle.--The term ``alternative 
     fueled vehicle'' has the meaning given the term in section 
     301 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13211).
       (3) Community college.--The term ``community college'' has 
     the meaning given the term ``junior or community college'' in 
     section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1058).
       (4) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
     Department of Energy.
       (5) Nonroad vehicle.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``nonroad vehicle'' means a 
     vehicle that is not licensed for onroad use.
       (B) Inclusions.--The term ``nonroad vehicle'' includes a 
     vehicle described in subparagraph (A) that is used 
     principally--
       (i) for industrial, farming, or commercial use;
       (ii) for rail transportation;
       (iii) at an airport; or

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       (iv) for marine purposes.
       (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Energy.

     SEC. 3. LOAN GUARANTEES FOR ALTERNATIVE FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE.

       Section 1703(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
     16513(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(11) Infrastructure for provision and distribution of 
     alternative fuels.''.

     SEC. 4. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY VEHICLES MANUFACTURING INCENTIVE 
                   PROGRAM.

       Section 136 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 
     2007 (42 U.S.C. 17013) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as 
     clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting 
     appropriately;
       (ii) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as redesignated by 
     clause (i)), by striking ``means an ultra efficient vehicle 
     or a light duty vehicle that meets--'' and inserting 
     ``means--
       ``(A) an ultra efficient vehicle or a light duty vehicle 
     that meets--'';
       (iii) in clause (iii) (as redesignated by clause (i)), by 
     striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
       (iv) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) a vehicle (such as a medium-duty or heavy-duty work 
     truck, bus, or rail transit vehicle) that--
       ``(i) is used on a public street, road, highway, or 
     transitway;
       ``(ii) meets each applicable emission standard that is 
     established as of the date of the application; and
       ``(iii) will reduce consumption of conventional motor fuel 
     by 25 percent or more, as compared to existing surface 
     transportation technologies that perform a similar function, 
     unless the Secretary determines that--

       ``(I) the percentage is not achievable for a vehicle type 
     or class; and
       ``(II) an alternative percentage for that vehicle type or 
     class will result in substantial reductions in motor fuel 
     consumption within the United States.'';

       (B) in paragraph (3)(B)--
       (i) by striking ``equipment and'' and inserting 
     ``equipment,''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``, and manufacturing process equipment'' 
     after ``suppliers''; and
       (C) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
       ``(4) Qualifying components.--The term `qualifying 
     components' means components, systems, or groups of 
     subsystems that the Secretary determines--
       ``(A) to be designed to improve fuel economy or otherwise 
     substantially reduce consumption of conventional motor fuel; 
     or
       ``(B) to contribute measurably to the overall improved fuel 
     use of an advanced technology vehicle, including idle 
     reduction technologies.'';
       (2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph 
     (1), by striking ``to automobile'' and inserting ``to 
     advanced technology vehicle'';
       (3) in subsection (d)(1), in the first sentence, by 
     striking ``a total of not more than $25,000,000,000 in'';
       (4) in subsection (h)--
       (A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Automobile'' 
     and inserting ``Advanced Technology Vehicle''; and
       (B) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``automobiles'' each 
     place it appears and inserting ``advanced technology 
     vehicles''; and
       (5) in subsection (i), by striking ``2012'' and inserting 
     ``2018''.

     SEC. 5. CONVENTIONAL FUEL REPLACEMENT CALCULATION AND 
                   ASSESSMENT.

       (a) Methodology.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, by rule, develop 
     a methodology for calculating the equivalent volumes of 
     conventional fuel displaced by use of each alternative fuel 
     to assess the effectiveness of alternative fuel and 
     alternative fueled vehicles in reducing oil imports.
       (b) National Assessment.--Not later than 3 years after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
       (1) conduct a national assessment (using the methodology 
     developed under subsection (a)) of the effectiveness of 
     alternative fuel and alternative fueled vehicles in reducing 
     oil imports into the United States, including as assessment 
     of--
       (A) market penetration of alternative fuel and alternative 
     fueled vehicles in the United States;
       (B) successes and barriers to deployment identified by the 
     programs established under this Act; and
       (C) the maximum feasible deployment of alternative fuel and 
     alternative fueled vehicles by 2020 and 2030; and
       (2) report to Congress the results of the assessment.

     SEC. 6. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND COORDINATION.

       (a) Technical Assistance to State, Local, and Tribal 
     Governments.--
       (1) In general.--In carrying out this title, the Secretary 
     shall provide, at the request of the Governor, mayor, county 
     executive, public utility commissioner, or other appropriate 
     official or designee, technical assistance to State, local, 
     and tribal governments or to a public-private partnership 
     described in paragraph (2) to assist with the deployment of 
     alternative fuel and alternative fueled vehicles and 
     infrastructure.
       (2) Public-private partnership.--Technical assistance under 
     this section may be awarded to a public-private partnership, 
     comprised of State, local or tribal governments and 
     nongovernmental entities, including--
       (A) electric or natural gas utilities or other alternative 
     fuel distributors;
       (B) vehicle manufacturers;
       (C) alternative fueled vehicle or alternative fuel 
     technology providers;
       (D) vehicle fleet owners;
       (E) transportation and freight service providers; or
       (F) other appropriate non-Federal entities, as determined 
     by the Secretary.
       (3) Assistance.--The technical assistance described in 
     paragraph (1) may include--
       (A) coordination in the selection, location, and timing of 
     alternative fuel recharging and refueling equipment and 
     distribution infrastructure, including the identification of 
     transportation corridors and specific alternative fuels that 
     would be made available;
       (B) development of protocols and communication standards 
     that facilitate vehicle refueling and recharging into 
     electric, natural gas, and other alternative fuel 
     distribution systems;
       (C) development of codes and standards for the installation 
     of alternative fuel distribution and recharging and refueling 
     equipment;
       (D) education and outreach for the deployment of 
     alternative fuel and alternative fueled vehicles; and
       (E) utility rate design and integration of alternative 
     fueled vehicles into electric and natural gas utility 
     distribution systems.
       (b) Cost Sharing.--Cost sharing for assistance awarded 
     under this section shall be consistent with section 988 of 
     the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352).
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for 
     each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.

     SEC. 7. WORKFORCE TRAINING.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Secretary of Labor, shall award grants to community colleges, 
     other institutions of higher education, and other qualified 
     training and education institutions for the establishment or 
     expansion of programs to provide training and education for 
     vocational workforce development for--
       (1) the manufacture and maintenance of alternative fueled 
     vehicles; and
       (2) the manufacture, installation, support, and inspection 
     of alternative fuel recharging, refueling, and distribution 
     infrastructure.
       (b) Purpose.--Training funded under this section shall be 
     intended to ensure that the workforce has the necessary 
     skills needed to manufacture, install, and maintain 
     alternative fuel infrastructure and alternative fueled 
     vehicles.
       (c) Scope.--Training funded under this section shall 
     include training for--
       (1) electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, and other trades 
     and contractors who will be installing, maintaining, or 
     providing safety support for alternative fuel recharging, 
     refueling, and distribution infrastructure;
       (2) building code inspection officials;
       (3) vehicle, engine, and powertrain dealers and mechanics; 
     and
       (4) others positions as the Secretary determines necessary 
     to successfully deploy alternative fuels and vehicles.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for 
     each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.

     SEC. 8. REDUCTION OF ENGINE IDLING AND CONVENTIONAL FUEL 
                   CONSUMPTION.

       (a) Definition of Idle Reduction Technology.--Section 
     756(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16104(a)) 
     is amended by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(5) Idle reduction technology.--The term `idle reduction 
     technology' means an advanced truck stop electrification 
     system, auxiliary power unit, or other technology that--
       ``(A)(i) is used to reduce long-duration idling; and
       ``(ii) allows for the main drive engine or auxiliary 
     refrigeration engine to be shut down; or
       ``(B) uses an alternative fuel to reduce consumption of 
     conventional fuel and environmental emissions.''.
       (b) Funding.--Section 756(b)(4)(B) of the Energy Policy Act 
     of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16104(b)(4)(B)) is amended in clauses (i) 
     and (ii) by striking ``fiscal year 2008'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``each of fiscal years 2008 through 
     2018''.

     SEC. 9. ELECTRIC, HYDROGEN, AND NATURAL GAS UTILITY AND OIL 
                   PIPELINE PARTICIPATION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall identify barriers and 
     remedies in existing electric and natural gas and oil 
     pipeline transmission and distribution systems to the 
     distribution of alternative fuels and the deployment of 
     alternative fuel recharging and refueling capability, at 
     economically competitive costs of alternative fuel for 
     consumers, including--
       (1) model regulatory rate design and billing for recharging 
     and refueling alternative fueled vehicles;
       (2) electric grid load management and applications that 
     will allow batteries in plug-in electric drive vehicles to be 
     used for grid storage, ancillary services provision, and 
     backup power;
       (3) integration of plug-in electric drive vehicles with 
     smart grid technology, including protocols and standards, 
     necessary equipment, and information technology systems;

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       (4) technical and economic barriers to transshipment of 
     biofuels by oil pipelines, or distribution of hydrogen; and
       (5) any other barriers to installing sufficient and 
     appropriate alternative fuel recharging and refueling 
     infrastructure.
       (b) Consultation.--The Secretary shall carry out this 
     section in consultation with--
       (1) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;
       (2) State public utility commissions;
       (3) State consumer advocates;
       (4) electric and natural gas utility and transmission 
     owners and operators;
       (5) oil pipeline owners and operators;
       (6) hydrogen suppliers; and
       (7) other affected entities.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
     a report describing actions taken to carry out this section.

     SEC. 10. FEDERAL FLEETS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary (in consultation with the 
     Administrator of General Services, the Secretary of Defense, 
     the Postmaster General, and the Director of the Office of 
     Management and Budget) shall establish an interagency 
     coordination council for the development and procurement of 
     alternative fueled vehicles by Federal agencies.
       (b) Electricity and Natural Gas.--Electricity and natural 
     gas consumed by Federal agencies to fuel alternative fueled 
     vehicles shall be--
       (1) considered an alternative fuel; and
       (2) accounted for under Federal fleet management reporting 
     requirements, rather than under Federal building management 
     reporting requirements.
       (c) Assessment and Report.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary (in 
     consultation with the Administrator of General Services, the 
     Secretary of Defense, the Postmaster General, and the 
     Director of the Office of Management and Budget) shall 
     complete an assessment of Federal Government fleets 
     (including the United States Postal Service and the 
     Department of Defense) and submit to Congress a report that 
     describes--
       (1) for each Federal agency with a fleet of more than 200 
     vehicles, which types of vehicles the agency uses that would 
     or would not be suitable for alternative fuel use either 
     through the procurement of new alternative fueled vehicles, 
     or the conversion to alternative fuel, taking into account 
     the types of vehicles for which alternative fuel could 
     provide comparable functionality and lifecycle costs;
       (2) the quantity of alternative fueled vehicles that could 
     be deployed by the Federal Government in 5 years and in 10 
     years, assuming that the vehicles are available and are 
     purchased when new vehicles are needed or existing vehicles 
     are replaced; and
       (3) the estimated cost and benefits to the Federal 
     Government for vehicle purchases or conversions described in 
     this subsection.

     SEC. 11. HOV LANE ACCESS EXTENSION.

       Section 166(b)(5) of title 23, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``Before September 30, 
     2017, the State'' and inserting ``The State''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``Before September 30, 
     2017, the State'' and inserting ``The State''.
                                 ______