Hydrogen Fuel Cell Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-461
Sponsor: Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND]
Introduced: 2003-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Air pollution control
Alternative energy sources
Automobile engines
Automobiles
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Corporation taxes
Department of Energy
Economics and Public Finance
Electric power
Electric utilities
Electric vehicles
Energy efficiency
Energy policy
Environmental Protection
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to research
Fuel cells
Fuel consumption
Government Operations and Politics
Government procurement
Government publicity
Government vehicles
Governmental investigations
Hydrogen
Income tax
Indian economic development
Indian lands
Infrastructure
Labor and Employment
Minorities
Motor vehicles
Native Americans
Natural gas vehicles
Science, Technology, Communications
Standards
Tax credits
Taxation
Technological innovations
Technology transfer
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2003-02-26
text: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) conduct a research and development program relating to the production, storage, distribution, and use of hydrogen energy, including fueling infrastructure; and (2) establish a cost shared program to purchase, operate, and evaluate fuel cell vehicles in integrated service in Federal, tribal, State, local, or private fleets to demonstrate the viability of fuel cell vehicles.
Directs the Secretary to establish a cooperative agreements program with the private sector to demonstrate fuel cell-powered buses, trucks, and other heavy duty vehicles.
Instructs the Secretary, in cooperation with Indian Tribes, to develop and transmit to Congress a commercial application strategy for development of hybrid distributed power systems on tribal lands.
Mandates a Federal purchase and procurement program for fuel cell vehicles, including an agency fleet transition plan for vehicles powered by fuel cell technology.
Instructs the Secretary to establish and fund a stationary fuel cell power purchase program for federally-owned or -operated facilities, Federal residences, and Federal portable applications.
Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish Federal standards governing: (1) distributed generation; (2) distribution interconnections; (3) minimum fuel and technology diversity; (4) prohibited rates and charges; and (5) net metering.
Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow as a credit against tax: (1) a qualified hydrogen fuel cell motor vehicle credit; (2) 50 percent of the amount paid or incurred for the installation of hydrogen fuel cell motor vehicle refueling property; and (3) 30 percent of residential fuel cell property expenditures.
Directs the Secretary to transmit to Congress a plan identifying critical technologies, enabling strategies and applications, technical targets, and associated time frames that support the commercialization of hydrogen-fueled fuel cell vehicles.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2856-2863)
action_date: 2003-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate