Green Bus Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.512 | Sponsor: Rep. Brownley, Julia (D-CA)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Green Bus Act of 2021
This bill requires all buses purchased or leased with Federal Transit Administration funds to be zero-emission beginning on October 1, 2029.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) must issue an annual best practices report on zero-emission bus programs to help states and transit agencies implement zero-emission bus fleets.
DOT must give preference in awarding grants under the low or no emission program to transit agencies who have completed a full fleet transition plan.
The federal share of the cost of any zero-emission bus purchased or leased in accordance with this bill shall be 90%.

To require any bus purchased for use in public transportation with 
   funds provided by the Federal Transit Administration to be a zero-
                 emission bus, 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 ``Green Bus Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. ZERO-EMISSION BUS REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 5312 the following:
``Sec. 5313. Zero-emission bus requirements
    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other requirements of this 
chapter, not later than October 1, 2029, any bus purchased or leased 
with funds provided under this chapter or otherwise provided by the 
Federal Transit Administration for purposes of providing public 
transportation shall be a zero-emission bus.
    ``(b) Federal Share.--Notwithstanding any other requirements of 
this chapter, the Federal share of the cost of any zero-emission bus 
purchased or leased with funds provided under this chapter or otherwise 
provided by the Federal Transit Administration for purposes of 
providing public transportation shall be 90 percent.
    ``(c) Definition of Zero-Emission Bus.--In this section, the term 
`zero-emission bus' means a bus that, under any possible operational 
modes or conditions, produces no exhaust emissions of--
            ``(1) any greenhouse gas; or
            ``(2) any air pollutant for which air quality criteria are 
        issued under section 108 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7408) 
        or for which a national ambient air quality standard has been 
        promulgated under section 109 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 7409).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 53 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
related to section 5312 the following new item:

``5313. Zero-emission bus requirements.''.

SEC. 3. REPORT ON BEST PRACTICES IMPLEMENTING ZERO-EMISSION BUS FLEETS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall compile, and make 
publicly available, a report containing best practices and lessons 
learned by transit agencies and States that have implemented or are in 
the process of implementing zero-emission bus fleets.
    (b) Consultation.--In compiling the report, the Secretary shall 
consult with transit agencies, States, zero-emission bus manufacturers, 
and other stakeholders that the Secretary determines are appropriate.
    (c) Updates to Report.--The Secretary shall update the report 
required under subsection (a) annually.

SEC. 4. PREFERENCE UNDER LOW- OR NO-EMISSION VEHICLE PROGRAM FOR 
              OPERATORS WITH FULL FLEET TRANSITION PLANS.

    Section 5339(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) Preference.--In awarding grants under this 
        subsection, the Secretary shall give preference to applicants 
        who have completed a full fleet transition plan.''.
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