GREEN Ferries Act
Bill: H.R.3516 | Sponsor: Rep. Larsen, Rick (D-WA)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Greenhouse gas Reduction and Environmental Enhancement through New Ferries Act or the GREEN Ferries Act
This bill makes projects to construct or otherwise acquire zero- or reduced-emissions passenger ferries (and related facilities and equipment) eligible for grants that support transit capital, operating assistance, and transportation planning in urbanized areas.

To amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of 
  Transportation to make zero-emission or reduced-emission passenger 
                 ferry grants, 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 ``Greenhouse gas Reduction and 
Environmental Enhancement through New Ferries Act'' or the ``GREEN 
Ferries Act''.

SEC. 2. PASSENGER FERRY GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 5307(h) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following paragraph:
            ``(4) Zero-emission or reduced-emission grants.--
                    ``(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
                            ``(i) Eligible project.--The term `eligible 
                        project' means a project or program of projects 
                        in an area eligible for a grant under 
                        subsection (a) for--
                                    ``(I) acquiring zero- or reduced-
                                emission passenger ferries;
                                    ``(II) leasing zero- or reduced-
                                emission passenger ferries;
                                    ``(III) constructing new vessels, 
                                facilities, and related equipment for 
                                zero- or reduced-emission passenger 
                                ferries;
                                    ``(IV) leasing facilities and 
                                related equipment for zero- or reduced-
                                emission passenger ferries;
                                    ``(V) constructing new public 
                                transportation facilities to 
                                accommodate zero- or reduced-emission 
                                passenger ferries;
                                    ``(VI) constructing shoreside ferry 
                                charging or fueling infrastructure for 
                                zero- or reduced-emission passenger 
                                ferries; or
                                    ``(VII) rehabilitating or improving 
                                existing public transportation 
                                facilities to accommodate zero- or 
                                reduced-emission passenger ferries.
                            ``(ii) Zero- or reduced-emission passenger 
                        ferry.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The term `zero- 
                                or reduced-emission passenger ferry' 
                                means a passenger ferry used to provide 
                                public transportation that reduces 
                                operational lifecycle emissions by at 
                                least 75 percent through the use of 
                                eligible technologies and fuels, that 
                                may include utilizing onboard energy 
                                storage systems or alternative fuels, 
                                hybrid-electric or 100 percent electric 
                                propulsion, related shoreside charging 
                                or fueling infrastructure, and other 
                                technologies deployed under normal 
                                operation.
                            ``(iii) Recipient.--The term `recipient' 
                        means a designated recipient, a local 
                        government authority, or a State that receives 
                        a grant under subsection (a).
                    ``(B) General authority.--The Secretary may make 
                grants to recipients to finance eligible projects under 
                this paragraph.
                    ``(C) Grant requirements.--A grant under this 
                paragraph shall be subject to the same terms and 
                conditions as a grant under subsection (a).
                    ``(D) Competitive process.--The Secretary shall 
                solicit grant applications and make grants for eligible 
                projects under this paragraph on a competitive basis.
                    ``(E) Government share of costs.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Federal share of the 
                        cost of an eligible project carried out under 
                        this paragraph shall not exceed 80 percent.
                            ``(ii) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal 
                        share of the cost of an eligible project 
                        carried out under this subsection may be 
                        derived from in-kind contributions.''.
    (b) Set Aside.--Section 5336(h)(1) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
            ``(1) to carry out section 5307(h)--
                    ``(A) $60,906,000 shall be set aside in fiscal year 
                2022, of which, not less than $20,000,000 shall be used 
                to make grants under section 5307(h)(4);
                    ``(B) $61,856,134 shall be set aside in fiscal year 
                2023, of which, not less than $20,000,000 shall be used 
                to make grants under section 5307(h)(4);
                    ``(C) $62,845,832 shall be set aside in fiscal year 
                2024, of which, not less than $20,000,000 shall be used 
                to make grants under section 5307(h)(4); and
                    ``(D) $63,832,511 shall be set aside in fiscal year 
                2025, of which, not less than $20,000,000 shall be used 
                to make grants under section 5307(h)(4);''.
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