Clean Vehicle Corridors Act

To foster market development of clean energy fueling facilities by steering infrastructure installation toward designated Clean Vehicle Corridors. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Clean Vehicle Corridors Act 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Traditional transportation refueling networks are well-established, but market uncertainties regarding alternative fuel infrastructure continue to hamper the full use of cleaner alternative domestic energy resources in transportation. (2) Despite considerable investor interest, higher capital costs and an uncertain consumer base has limited expansion of cleaner alternative refueling and recharging options. (3) Reduced pollution 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 petroleum continues to be consumed as 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. 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 pollution by motor vehicles; (E) decrease our Nation's use of foreign oil; and (F) encourage innovation in transportation energy and technology. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) Cleaner alternative fuels The term cleaner alternative fuels (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 Public Law 100–494 Public Law 101–549 Public Law 102–486 (3) Highways The term highways (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 (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 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 Clean Vehicle Corridors (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 vehicle refueling or charging 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) (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 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.

Summary: Clean Vehicle Corridors Act Requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to: designate at least five Clean Vehicle Corridors along federal highways, interstates, or other contiguous highways after consulting with specified agencies; and 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 "cleaner alternative fuels" to include: compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (also known as propane), plug-in electric, advanced biofuels, and hydrogen. Authorizes DOT to provide waivers of statutory restrictions for cleaner alternative fuel projects and vehicles along Clean Vehicle Corridors. Requires DOT to: maintain a publicly accessible website containing information and resources for corridors; 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; identify existing technical and financial mechanisms available to promote the development of cleaner alternative fuel infrastructure; and collaborate with the Department of Energy (DOE) and all relevant Clean Vehicle Corridor stakeholders to collect data on cleaner alternative fueling station usage patterns. Authorizes: 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 DOT, in consultation with DOE, the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency, to provide technical assistance to interstate compact partnerships.