The Fleets Conversion Act
From dKosopedia
Categories: Energy | Global warming
Act III of Energize America
Contents |
Objectives
1) To significantly improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in the vehicle fleets of local, state & federal governments and commercial organizations, and 2) to create a ready market for a range of increasingly clean and energy-efficient vehicles for transportation and commerce.
Description
Fleets of commercial and government vehicles offer a promising opportunity to make significant and relatively quick progress in the migration to a clean and renewable energy future. The US Government alone maintains an automobile fleet of over 1.2 million vehicles and 2.8 million Class 1-5 trucks4. As one of the largest purchasers of vehicles, the US government has both the responsibility and capability to lead the nation by example of its purchasing power. In addition, there are over 400,000 school buses5 and 120,000 municipal buses in the US.
The Fleets Conversion Act will require that within two years of passage that all local, state and federal governments begin to purchase vehicles whose fuel efficiency and pollution metrics are at least 50% better than the US fleet average (adjusted annually). Within seven years of passage of this act, the entire existing federal government vehicle fleet shall be replaced, and each year thereafter will see continued fleet mileage improvement. Starting three years after passage, all fossil fuel-powered vehicles for governmental use will be required to have flexible fuel systems, enabling them to use both fossil and biofuels.
The Fleets Conversion Act will also provide incentives to assist businesses in the transition to more efficient vehicle fleets. Vehicles whose fuel efficiency and pollution metrics are at least 50% better than the US fleet average (adjusted annually) for any given task will be eligible for one-year depreciation, while other vehicles will be depreciated over five years. Agencies, local governments and private entities which install electric, bio-gas or other infrastructure to serve these vehicles shall receive tax credits based on the amount of petroleum displaced. Local efforts to convert mass transit agencies and school districts to use landfill or other bio-gas, biodiesel and plug-in hybrids will be encouraged.
Benefits
First and foremost, the Fleets Conversion Act will motivate the transportation industry to provide the market with a range of increasingly clean and energy-efficient vehicles. Local, state and federal fleet fuel efficiency will be tripled by 2020, saving over 500,000 barrels of oil per day and 5 million tons of greenhouse gases annually. In total, this Act will save Americans $1 billion per year on average (at today’s prices), which can be used to invest in other government services or to reduce taxes.
Investment
The Fleets Conversion Act will cost an estimated $150 million per year.
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