COST Act

Subjects: Energy

Summary:  <p><b>Comparison of Sustainable Transportation Act or the COST Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the federal government to analyze the costs and impacts of replacing vehicles fueled by gasoline with electric vehicles or flex-fuel ethanol vehicles (e.g., vehicles capable of using fuel that contains a percentage of ethanol). Specifically, the Government Accountability Office must analyze the costs of replacing light-duty vehicles (i.e., vehicles weighing 8,500 pounds or less, such as passenger cars, minivans, and sport utility vehicles) in the federal fleet that are fueled with gasoline with electric vehicles or flex-fuel ethanol vehicles. The <i>federal fleet</i> means vehicles owned or operated by the federal government.</p> <p>In addition, the Department of Energy (DOE) must analyze the overall greenhouse gas impacts of the following types of vehicles: (1) a conventional gasoline vehicle, (2) an E85 (a fuel containing 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) capable flex-fuel vehicle, or (3) a battery electric vehicle. In conducting the analysis, DOE must utilize the most recent Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation model (commonly referred to as the GREET model) developed by Argonne National Laboratory.</p>

<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 912 Introduced in House (IH)]

&lt;DOC&gt;






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 912

 To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an 
analysis of the costs of converting light-duty vehicles in the Federal 
          fleet to electric vehicles, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 9, 2023

   Mr. Feenstra (for himself, Mr. Bost, Mr. Flood, Mrs. Hinson, Mr. 
 Finstad, and Mrs. Miller-Meeks) introduced the following bill; which 
 was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and in 
 addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an 
analysis of the costs of converting light-duty vehicles in the Federal 
          fleet to electric vehicles, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Comparison of Sustainable 
Transportation Act'' or the ``COST Act''.

SEC. 2. COST ANALYSIS OF CONVERTING FEDERAL FLEET TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

    (a) Cost Analysis.--The Comptroller General of the United States 
shall conduct--
            (1) an analysis of the costs of replacing the light-duty 
        vehicles in the Federal fleet that are fueled by gasoline with 
        electric vehicles, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; 
        and
            (2) an analysis of the costs of replacing the light-duty 
        vehicles in the Federal fleet that are fueled by gasoline with 
        flex-fuel ethanol vehicles.
    (b) Inclusions.--Each analysis conducted under subsection (a) shall 
include the costs necessary for deployment of infrastructure for each 
applicable type of electric vehicle or flex-fuel ethanol vehicle that 
it is feasible to be used in the Federal fleet nationwide.
    (c) Publication.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall publish online the cost 
analyses conducted under subsection (a).

SEC. 3. ANALYSIS OF LIFECYCLE EMISSIONS OF E85 CAPABLE FLEX-FUEL AND 
              ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

    (a) Analysis.--The Secretary of Energy, utilizing the most recent 
Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation 
model (commonly referred to as the ``GREET model'') developed by 
Argonne National Laboratory, shall conduct a lifecycle analysis of 
greenhouse gas emissions from each of the following types of vehicles:
            (1) A conventional gasoline vehicle.
            (2) An E85 capable flex-fuel vehicle.
            (3) A battery electric vehicle.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall submit to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report on the lifecycle analyses conducted under subsection (a).

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) E85.--The term ``E85'' means a fuel containing 85 
        percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
            (2) Federal fleet.--The term ``Federal fleet'' means the 
        fleet of federally owned or operated motor vehicles as reported 
        in the most recent Federal Fleet Report of the General Services 
        Administration.
            (3) Light-duty vehicle.--The term ``light-duty vehicle'' 
        means a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 
        or equal to 8,500 pounds.
                                 &lt;all&gt;
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