United States (Federal)
Air Pollution Control Program
The Air Pollution Control Program assists state, local, and tribal agencies in planning, developing, establishing, improving, and maintaining adequate programs for prevention and control of air pollution or implementation of national air quality standards. Plans may emphasize alternative fuels, vehicle maintenance, and transportation choices to reduce vehicle miles traveled. Eligible applicants may receive federal funding for up to 60% of project costs to implement their plans. (Reference 42 U.S. Code 7405)
Point of Contact
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Phone (202) 272-0167
http://www.epa.gov
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program
The CMAQ Improvement Program provides funding to state departments of transportation (DOTs), municipal planning organizations (MPOs), and transit agencies for projects and programs in air quality non-attainment and maintenance areas that reduce transportation-related emissions. Eligible activities include transit improvements, travel demand management strategies, traffic flow improvements, purchasing idle reduction equipment, development of alternative fueling infrastructure, conversion of public fleet vehicles to operate on cleaner fuels, and outreach activities that provide assistance to diesel equipment and vehicle owners and operators regarding the purchase and installation of diesel retrofits. State DOTs and MPOs must give priority to projects and programs to include diesel retrofits and other cost-effective emissions reduction activities, and cost-effective congestion mitigation activities that provide air quality benefits. For more information, visit the CMAQ Web site. (Reference 23 U.S. Code 149)
Point of Contact
Federal Highway Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/index.html
Clean Fuels Grant Program
The Clean Fuels Grant Program assists designated ozone and carbon monoxide air quality nonattainment and maintenance areas in achieving or maintaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards through grant funding. The program accelerates the deployment of advanced bus technologies by supporting the use of low-emission vehicles in transit fleets. The program assists transit agencies in purchasing low-emission buses and related equipment, constructing alternative fuel stations, modifying garage facilities to accommodate clean fuel vehicles, and assisting with the use of biodiesel. For more information, see the Clean Fuels Grant Program fact sheet. (Reference 49 U.S. Code 5308 and 49 CFR 624)
Point of Contact
Federal Transit Administration, Office of Program Management
U.S. Department of Transportation
Phone (202) 366-4020
http://www.fta.dot.gov/index.html
State Energy Program (SEP) Funding
The SEP provides grants to states to assist in designing, developing, and implementing renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. Funding from the SEP is directed to state energy offices, and each state's energy office manages all SEP-funded projects. States may also receive project funding from technology programs in the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) for SEP Special Projects. EERE distributes the funding through an annual competitive solicitation to state energy offices. For more information about the SEP, including SEP project descriptions, visit the SEP Web site.
Point of Contact
U.S. Department of Energy
Phone (800) 342-5363
Fax (202) 586-4403
http://www.energy.gov
Clean Cities
The mission of Clean Cities is to advance the energy, economic, and environmental security of the United States by supporting local initiatives to adopt practices that reduce the use of petroleum in the transportation sector. Clean Cities carries out this mission through a network of more than 80 volunteer coalitions, which develop public/private partnerships to promote alternative fuels and advanced vehicles, fuel blends, fuel economy, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction. Clean Cities provides information about financial opportunities, coordinates technical assistance projects; updates and maintains databases and Web sites, and publishes fact sheets, newsletters, and related technical and informational materials. For more information, visit the Clean Cities Web site.
Point of Contact
U.S. Department of Energy
Phone (800) 342-5363
Fax (202) 586-4403
http://www.energy.gov
Vehicle Incremental Cost Allocation
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is required to allocate the incremental cost of purchasing alternative fuel vehicles across the entire fleet of vehicles distributed by GSA. This mandate also applies to other federal agencies that procure vehicles for federal fleets. (Reference 42 U.S. Code 13212 (c))
Point of Contact
U.S. General Services Administration
Phone (703) 605-5630
AFVteam@gsa.gov
http://www.gsa.gov/afv
Vehicle Acquisition and Fuel Use Requirements for State and Alternative Fuel Provider Fleets
Under the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992, certain state government and alternative fuel provider fleets are required to acquire alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). Compliance is required by fleets that operate, lease, or control 50 or more light-duty vehicles within the U.S. Of those 50 vehicles, at least 20 must be used primarily within a single Metropolitan Statistical Area/Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area. Those same 20 vehicles must also be capable of being centrally fueled. Covered fleets earn credits for each vehicle purchased, and credits earned in excess of their requirements can be banked or traded with other fleets. Additionally, fleets that use fuel blends containing at least 20% biodiesel (B20) in medium- and heavy-duty vehicles may earn credits toward their annual AFV acquisition requirements.
On March 20, 2007, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a final rule on Alternative Compliance (Section 703 of EPAct of 2005), which allows fleets the option to choose a petroleum reduction path in lieu of acquiring AFVs. Interested fleets must obtain a waiver from DOE by proving that they will achieve petroleum reductions equivalent to that achieved by having AFVs running on alternative fuels 100% of the time. For more information, visit the EPAct State and Alternative Fuel Provider Rule Web site, or contact the Regulatory Information Line at (202) 586-9171 or regulatory_info@afdc.nrel.gov.
(Reference 42 U.S. Code 13251 and 13263a, and 10 CFR 490)
Point of Contact
Dana O'Hara
State and Alternative Provider Rule
U.S. Department of Energy
Phone (202) 586-8063
dana.o'hara@ee.doe.gov
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/epact/state/index.html
Vehicle Acquisition and Fuel Use Requirements for Federal Fleets
Under the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992, 75% of new light-duty vehicles acquired by certain federal fleets must be AFVs. As amended in January 2008, Section 301 of EPAct of 1992 defines AFVs to include hybrid electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, and advanced lean burn vehicles. Federal fleets are also required to use alternative fuels in dual-fuel vehicles unless the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) determines an agency qualifies for a waiver; grounds for a waiver include the lack of alternative fuel availability and cost restrictions. Fleets that use fuel blends containing at least 20% biodiesel (B20) in medium- and heavy-duty vehicle may earn credits toward their annual requirements. Additionally, Executive Order 13423 requires federal agencies with 20 vehicles or more in their U.S. fleet to decrease petroleum consumption by 2% per year, relative to their Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 baseline, through FY 2015. Agencies must also continue to increase their alternative fuel use by 10% per year, relative to the previous year. For more information, visit the EPAct Federal Fleet Requirements Web site.
Additional requirements for federal fleets were included in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, including low greenhouse gas emitting vehicle acquisition requirements and renewable fuel infrastructure installation. These requirements are dependent upon formal rulemaking by DOE.
(Reference 42 U.S. Code 13212 and Executive Order 13423)
Point of Contact
Federal Fleet Requirements
U.S. Department of Energy
fed_fleets@afdc.nrel.gov
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/about/fleet_requirements.html
Vehicle Acquisition and Fuel Use Requirements for Private and Local Government Fleets
Under the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was directed to determine whether private and local government fleets should be mandated to acquire alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). In January 2004, DOE published a final rule announcing its decision not to implement an AFV acquisition mandate for private and local government fleets. In March 2006, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that DOE must mandate AFV acquisitions for private and local fleets, and directed DOE to complete two rulemakings within two years: a final determination on the Private and Local Government Fleet Rule and a new Replacement Fuel Goal. DOE issued a final rulemaking on the new Replacement Fuel Goal in March 2007 extending the EPAct of 1992 goal to 2030. The goal is to achieve a domestic production capacity for replacement fuels sufficient to replace 30% of the U.S. motor fuel consumption. In September 2007, DOE issued a Notice of Propose Rulemaking (NOPR) for the Alternative Fuel Transportation Program; Private and Local Government Fleet Determination. DOE is expected to issue a final rule in March 2008. For more information on the Private and Local Government Fleet Rule compliance, visit the EPAct Private and Local Government Fleet Rule Web page. (Reference 42 U.S. Code 13257)
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 Signed Into Law
President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 (House Resolution 6), designed to improve vehicle fuel economy and help reduce U.S. dependence on oil. EISA aims to increase the supply of alternative fuel sources by setting a mandatory Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requiring transportation fuel sold in the U.S. to contain a minimum of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2022, including advanced and cellulosic biofuels and biomass-based diesel. In addition, the law requires the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard to reach 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020. The EISA is projected to reduce energy consumption by 7% and greenhouse gas emissions by 9% by 2030. For a summary of the major provisions set forth by the legislation, visit the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 page of the Federal Incentives & Laws Web site. The complete legislation can be viewed on the Library of Congress Web site.
Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands Program
The Alternative Transportation in the Parks and Public Lands Program provides funding to support public transportation projects in parks and on public lands. The goals of the program include conservation of natural, historical, and cultural resources, and reduced congestion and pollution. The Federal Transit Administration administers the program while partnering with the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service to provide for technical assistance in alternative transportation options. Eligible projects include capital and planning expenses for alternative transportation systems such as clean fuel shuttle vehicles. For more information, see the Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands fact sheet. (Reference 49 U.S. Code 5320)
Point of Contact
Federal Transit Administration, Office of Program Management
U.S. Department of Transportation
Phone (202) 366-4020
http://www.fta.dot.gov/index.html
Voluntary Airport Low Emission (VALE) Program
The goal of the VALE program is to reduce ground level emissions at commercial service airports located in designated ozone and carbon monoxide air quality nonattainment and maintenance areas. The VALE program provides funding through the Airport Improvement Program and the Passenger Facility Charges program for the purchase of low-emission vehicles, development of fueling and recharging stations, implementing gate electrification, and other airport air quality improvements. (Reference 49 U.S. Code 40101)
Point of Contact
Jake Plante
Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Environmental Office
U.S. Department of Transportation
Phone (202) 493-4875
jake.plante@faa.gov
http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/environmental/vale/
Alternative Fuel Definition
The following fuels are defined as alternative fuels by the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992: pure methanol, ethanol, and other alcohols; blends of 85% or more of alcohol with gasoline; natural gas and liquid fuels domestically produced from natural gas; liquefied petroleum gas (propane); coal-derived liquid fuels; hydrogen; electricity; pure biodiesel (B100); fuels, other than alcohol, derived from biological materials; and P-Series fuels. In addition, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is authorized to designate other fuels as alternative fuels, provided that the fuel is substantially nonpetroleum, yields substantial energy security benefits, and offers substantial environmental benefits. For more information about the alternative fuels defined by EPAct 1992 as well as DOE's alternative fuel designation authority, visit the EPAct Web site. (Reference 42 U.S. Code 13211)
Point of Contact
U.S. Department of Energy
Phone (800) 342-5363
Fax (202) 586-4403
http://www.energy.gov
Improved Energy Technology Loans
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) provides loan guarantees through the Loan Guarantee Program (Program) to eligible projects that reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases, and support early commercial use of advanced technologies, including biofuels and alternative fuel vehicles. The Program is not intended for research and development projects. DOE may issue loan guarantees for up to 100% of the amount of the loan for an eligible project. For loan guarantees of over 80%, the loan must be issued and funded by the Treasury Department's Federal Financing Bank. For additional Program guidelines and solicitation announcements, please visit the Loan Guarantee Program Web site. (Reference 42 U.S. Code 16513)
Point of Contact
U.S. Department of Energy
Phone (800) 342-5363
Fax (202) 586-4403
http://www.energy.gov
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act/Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (House Resolution 1424) was signed by President Bush, enacting the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008. The bill amends and extends existing biodiesel blending and production tax credits, extends existing alternative fuel excise tax credit, and extends the alternative fueling infrastructure tax credit. The bill also creates a new tax incentive toward the purchase of qualified plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, based on vehicle weight and battery capacity. Additionally, qualified idle reduction devices are exempt for heavy-duty truck retail excise taxes.
