Clean Vehicle Corridors Act

Summary: Clean Vehicle Corridors Act - Requires the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to: (1) designate at least five Clean Vehicle Corridors along federal highways, interstates, or other contiguous highways after consulting with specified agencies; and (2) encourage the addition of cleaner alternative fuel options and other supporting infrastructure along the corridors and the inclusion of existing and private facilities in the corridor. Defines &quot;cleaner alternative fuels&quot; to include: (1) compressed natural gas, (2) liquefied natural gas, (3) liquefied petroleum gas (also known as propane), (4) plug-in electric, (5) advanced biofuels, and (6) hydrogen. Authorizes the Secretary to provide waivers of statutory restrictions for cleaner alternative fuel projects and vehicles along Clean Vehicle Corridors. Requires the Secretary to: (1) maintain a publicly accessible website containing information and resources for corridors, (2) identify best practices and case studies of communities and complementary programs that have successfully promoted cleaner alternative fuel use in consultation with federal agencies, tribes, states, and Clean Cities, (3) identify all existing technical and financial mechanisms available to promote the development of cleaner alternative fuel infrastructure, and (4) collaborate with the Secretary of Energy (DOE) and all relevant Clean Vehicle Corridor stakeholders to collect data on cleaner alternative fueling station usage patterns. Authorizes: (1) two or more contiguous states to enter into an interstate compact to establish Clean Vehicle Corridor partnerships to facilitate planning for and siting of necessary facilities within those states; and (2) the Secretary, in consultation with the DOE Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to provide technical assistance to interstate compact partnerships.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Clean Vehicle Corridors Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Traditional transportation refueling networks are well-
        established, but market uncertainties continue to hamper the 
        full use of cleaner alternative domestic energy resources.
            (2) Despite considerable investor interest, higher capital 
        costs and an uncertain consumer base has limited expansion of 
        cleaner alternative refueling options and its customer base.
            (3) Reduced emissions and energy independence are important 
        factors at a National level, but they are not a sufficient 
        inducement to create large-scale changes.
            (4) While American-made fuels provide many energy security 
        and environmental benefits, a significant portion of imported 
        oil continues to be consumed as diesel fuel in on-road motor 
        vehicles.
            (5) Motor vehicles fueled by domestically generated, 
        cleaner alternative transportation fuels, such as compressed 
        natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane, electricity, 
        hydrogen, and advanced biofuels, can pay for themselves over 
        time, but sales of such vehicles, other than return-to-base 
        vehicles, have been hampered because of insufficient refueling 
        infrastructure.
            (6) Simultaneous facilitation of infrastructure development 
        and a robust customer base is needed to avoid penalizing 
        current users or early adopters.
            (7) Facilitating focused infrastructure development along 
        designated routes will foster an expansion of cleaner 
        alternative fuel vehicles and increase the likelihood for 
        commercial success.
            (8) Eliminating the logistical barriers that are delaying 
        infrastructure development along Clean Vehicle Corridors will--
                    (A) provide cleaner alternative refueling stations 
                with a larger customer base;
                    (B) attract more buyers to the purchase of clean 
                vehicles; and
                    (C) provide new market outlets for clean fuel 
                providers.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to provide market certainty to drive private and 
        commercial capital investment in clean transportation options;
            (2) to promote clean transportation technologies that 
        will--
                    (A) lead to increased diversity and dissemination 
                of cleaner alternative fuel options; and
                    (B) enable the United States to bridge the gap from 
                foreign energy imports to secure, domestically produced 
                energy; and
            (3) to facilitate clean transportation incentives that 
        will--
                    (A) attract a critical mass of clean transportation 
                vehicles that will give cleaner alternative fueling 
                stations an assured customer base and market certitude;
                    (B) provide for ongoing increases in energy 
                demands;
                    (C) support the growth of jobs and businesses in 
                the United States;
                    (D) reduce emissions by motor vehicles;
                    (E) decrease our Nation's use of foreign oil; and
                    (F) encourage innovation in transportation energy 
                and technology.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Cleaner alternative fuels.--The term ``cleaner 
        alternative fuels'' includes--
                    (A) compressed natural gas;
                    (B) liquefied natural gas;
                    (C) liquefied petroleum gas (also known as 
                propane);
                    (D) plug-in electric;
                    (E) advanced biofuels (as defined in section 
                211(o)(1)(B)(i) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 
                7545(o)(1)(B)(i));
                    (F) hydrogen; and
                    (G) other fuels designated by the Secretary.
            (2) Clean cities.--The term ``Clean Cities'' means the 
        voluntary public-private partnership and technology deployment 
        program managed by the Department of Energy to meet goals in 
        the Alternative Motor Fuels Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-494), 
        the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (Public Law 101-549), and 
        the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-486).
            (3) Highways.--The term ``highways'' is limited to roadways 
        that are part of--
                    (A) the National Highway System, as established by 
                the Federal Highway Administration;
                    (B) the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of 
                Interstate and Defense Highways;
                    (C) the National Truck Network, as authorized by 
                the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 
                (Public Law 97-424) and established by the Federal 
                Highway Administration; and
                    (D) other roadways most critical to trucks as 
                determined by the Office of Freight Management and 
                Operations in the Federal Highway Administration and 
                authorized by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st 
                Century Act (MAP-21) (Public Law 112-141).
            (4) Supporting infrastructure.--The term ``supporting 
        infrastructure'' includes fueling stations, rest stops, travel 
        plazas, and other service areas on public or private property 
        that are found to be most practically located along a Clean 
        Vehicle Corridor.

SEC. 5. CLEAN VEHICLE CORRIDORS PROGRAM.

    (a) Corridor Designations.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation 
        (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall 
        designate not fewer than 5 ``Clean Vehicle Corridors'' along 
        Federal highways, interstates, or other contiguous highways.
            (2) Consultation.--Before making a designation under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                    (A) consult with the Secretary of Energy regarding 
                the analysis of data collected by both agencies at 
                cleaner alternative fueling projects authorized by this 
                Act and other Acts to better understand usage patterns 
                and petroleum displacement to inform Corridor 
                designation;
                    (B) receive approval from the Secretary of Energy;
                    (C) consult with the Secretary of Commerce, the 
                Secretary of the Interior, and the Administrator of the 
                Environmental Protection Agency;
                    (D) consult with State, Tribal, and local 
                governments through whose jurisdictions the proposed 
                corridor runs or abuts;
                    (E) gather information from Federal, State, Tribal, 
                and local governments, nongovernmental organizations, 
                businesses, Clean Cities, and individuals to help 
                determine which highways should be included in the 
                corridors designated under paragraph (1);
                    (F) consider existing programs, whether Federal, 
                State, Tribal, local, or private, which can be 
                leveraged to achieve the purposes of this Act;
                    (G) give preference to corridors that connect Clean 
                Cities, as designated by the Department of Energy; and
                    (H) give consideration to air quality nonattainment 
                areas, as determined by the Administration of the 
                Environmental Protection Agency.
    (b) Infrastructure Development for Cleaner Alternative Fuels.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
        encourage the addition of cleaner alternative fuel options and 
        other supporting infrastructure along Clean Vehicle Corridors. 
        These refueling stations should provide at least 1 cleaner 
        alternative fuel and allow any motor vehicle that operates on 
        such fuels to refuel at distances comfortably within 1 tank 
        range without the need for prior arrangement. Existing and 
        private facilities should be encouraged to be included in the 
        Clean Vehicle Corridors network.
            (2) Incentives.--To promote Clean Vehicle Corridors, the 
        Secretary may provide waivers to statutory restrictions for 
        cleaner alternative fuel projects and vehicles along Clean 
        Vehicle Corridors, including--
                    (A) modifying HOV/HOT lane restrictions under 
                section 166 of title 23, United States Code, to 
                accommodate vehicles using cleaner alternative fuels;
                    (B) modifying weight limits under section 127 of 
                title 23, United States Code, to accommodate the 
                additional weight to vehicles caused by cleaner 
                alternative fuel technology such as fuel cylinders for 
                natural gas or auxiliary power sources;
                    (C) deeming Clean Vehicle Corridor projects 
                designated under subsection (a) as eligible projects 
                for an increased Federal funding share under section 
                1116 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st 
                Century Act (MAP-21) (Public Law 112-141);
                    (D) allowing owners and operators of publicly owned 
                supporting infrastructure to designate parking spaces 
                that are conveniently located near major facilities for 
                use by vehicles that use cleaner alternative fuels;
                    (E) allowing the inclusion of cleaner alternative 
                fueling infrastructure projects in State energy 
                conservation plans, in accordance with section 
                362(d)(5) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 
                U.S.C. 6322(d)(5)); and
                    (F) giving areas surrounding Clean Cities a 
                priority preference for Department of Energy funding 
                opportunities.
    (c) Information and Resources on Clean Vehicle Corridors.--
            (1) Website.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation 
                shall maintain a publicly accessible website containing 
                information and resources for Clean Vehicle Corridors.
                    (B) Best practices.--The Secretary, in consultation 
                with Federal agencies, Tribes, States, and Clean 
                Cities, shall--
                            (i) identify best practices and case 
                        studies of communities and complementary 
                        programs that have successfully promoted 
                        cleaner alternative fuel use; and
                            (ii) post the information described in 
                        clause (i) on the website referred to in 
                        subparagraph (A).
                    (C) Available mechanisms.--The Secretary shall--
                            (i) identify all existing technical and 
                        financial mechanisms available to promote the 
                        development of cleaner alternative fuel 
                        infrastructure; and
                            (ii) post the information described in 
                        clause (i) on the website referred to in 
                        subparagraph (A).
                    (D) Hyperlink.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
                website referred to in subparagraph (A) is linked to 
                the Alternative Fuels Data Center maintained by the 
                Department of Energy.
            (2) Data gathering.--The Secretary shall collaborate with 
        the Secretary of Energy and all relevant Clean Vehicle Corridor 
        stakeholders to collect data on cleaner alternative fueling 
        station usage patterns, including energy consumption, 
        performance, petroleum displacement, and other factors deemed 
        important by the Secretaries to inform Corridor designation and 
        performance.
            (3) Interstate compacts.--
                    (A) Establishment.--Two or more contiguous States 
                may enter into an interstate compact to establish Clean 
                Vehicle Corridor partnerships to facilitate planning 
                for and siting of necessary facilities within those 
                States.
                    (B) Technical assistance.--
                            (i) In general.--The Secretary, in 
                        consultation with the Secretary of Energy, the 
                        Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the 
                        Interior, and the Administrator of the 
                        Environmental Protection Agency, may provide 
                        technical assistance to interstate compact 
                        partnerships established pursuant to 
                        subparagraph (A).
                            (ii) Federal authority.--Nothing contained 
                        in clause (i) or in any compact may be 
                        construed--
                                    (I) to limit the applicability of 
                                any Federal law;
                                    (II) to diminish or otherwise 
                                impair the jurisdiction of any Federal 
                                agency; or
                                    (III) to alter, amend, or otherwise 
                                affect any Federal law governing the 
                                judicial review of any action taken 
                                pursuant to any compact.
                    (C) Congressional review.--Each compact established 
                pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall acknowledge that 
                Congress may withdraw its consent under this paragraph 
                every 3 years after the compact has taken effect.