Promoting Electric Vehicles Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-948
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2011-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Building construction
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Commuting
Electric power generation and transmission
Employment and training programs
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Infrastructure development
Materials
Motor fuels
Oil and gas
Public contracts and procurement
Public utilities and utility rates
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Solid waste and recycling
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: 
Promoting Electric Vehicles Act of 2011 - Establishes within the Department of Energy (DOE) a national plug-in electric drive vehicle deployment program.
 
Directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) provide technical assistance upon request to state, local, and tribal governments with the deployment of plug-in electric drive vehicles; (2) make available to the public information regarding the cost, performance, usage data, and technical data regarding plug-in electric drive vehicles and associated infrastructure; (3) carry out a national assessment and develop a national plan for plug-in electric drive vehicle deployment; and (4) award grants for preparation of a community deployment plans and programs 
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and publish guidance for model building codes for the inclusion of separate circuits for charging infrastructure in new construction and major renovations of buildings; and (2) award grants to institutions to provide training and education for vocational workforce development to ensure skills needed to work on and maintain, and provide emergency assistance relating to, plug-in electric drive vehicles and the infrastructure required to support them.
 
Directs the DOE Federal Energy Management Program and the General Services Administration (GSA) to assess federal government fleets regarding the conversion to plug-in electric drive vehicles.
 
Instructs the Administrator of General Services to acquire plug-in electric drive vehicles and the requisite charging infrastructure for deployment in a range of locations in the federal fleet during a five-year period. 
 
Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to direct the Secretary to prioritize the acquisition of plug-in electric drive vehicles over nonelectric alternative fueled vehicles.
 
Establishes within the national deployment program competitive grant programs for: (1) targeted plug-in electric drive vehicle deployment communities; and (2) plug-in electric drive vehicle private fleet upgrade.
 
Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to authorize loan guarantees for: (1) plug-in electric drive vehicle fleets; and (2) plug-in electric drive vehicle charging infrastructure and networks of charging infrastructure operational before December 31, 2016.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish programs to fund research, development, and demonstration of advanced batteries, plug-in electric drive vehicle components, plug-in electric drive infrastructure, as well as secondary use applications; (2) study recycling of materials from plug-in electric drive vehicles and their batteries; and (3) establish the Advanced Batteries for Tomorrow Prize for a 500-mile vehicle battery. 
 
Establishes in the Treasury the 500-mile Battery Fund.
 
Requires the use of specified funds for Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) Plug-In Electric Drive Vehicle Research and Development Programs.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to study: (1) the raw materials needed for the manufacture of components for plug-in electric drive vehicles; and (2) the infrastructure needed to support such vehicles.
 
Requires the Secretary of Energy to arrange with the National Academy of Sciences to study the collection and preservation of data from plug-in electric drive vehicles.
 
Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to require each electric utility to develop a plan to support the use of plug-in electric drive vehicles in its service area.
 
Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to direct the Secretary to guarantee loans to eligible entities for the aggregate purchase in a calendar year of at least 200 qualified automotive batteries (designed for use in qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles but is purchased for nonautomotive applications) with a total minimum power rating of one megawatt and using advanced battery technology. 
 
Requires disposal of advanced batteries in accordance with the Solid Waste Disposal Act (that is, not in landfills).
 
Establishes the Plug-in Electric Drive Vehicle Technical Advisory Committee.
 
Directs the President to establish the Plug-in Electric Drive Vehicle Interagency Task Force. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-38.
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate