PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 13 PRINTER'S NO. 30
No. 22 Special Session No. 1 of 2007-2008
INTRODUCED BY TOMLINSON, M. WHITE, PILEGGI, WASHINGTON,
RAFFERTY, ERICKSON, GORDNER, STOUT, BOSCOLA AND PIPPY,
OCTOBER 16, 2007
SENATOR M. WHITE, ENERGY POLICIES, AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 27, 2007
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of November 29, 2004 (P.L.1376, No.178),
2 entitled "An act relating to alternative fuels; establishing
3 the Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund; authorizing grants and
4 rebates to promote the use of alternative fuels; imposing
5 duties on the Department of Environmental Protection;
6 providing for an annual report; allocating funds collected
7 from the utilities gross receipts tax; making an
8 appropriation; abrogating regulations; and making a repeal,"
9 further providing for the Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund.
10 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11 hereby enacts as follows:
12 Section 1. Section 3(b) and (d) of the act of November 29,
13 2004 (P.L.1376, No.178), known as the Alternative Fuels
14 Incentive Act, are amended to read:
15 Section 3. Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund.
16 * * *
17 (b) Expenditures.--
18 (1) Moneys from the fund shall be expended by the
19 department:
20 (i) As grants to school districts, municipal
1 authorities, political subdivisions, nonprofit entities,
2 corporations, limited liability companies or partnerships
3 incorporated or registered in this Commonwealth to
4 provide funding for:
5 (A) The expenses relative to retrofitting
6 vehicles to operate on alternative fuels as either a
7 bi-fuel, dual-fuel, hybrid or dedicated vehicle.
8 (B) The incremental cost of purchase of bi-fuel,
9 dual-fuel, hybrid or dedicated vehicles.
10 (C) The cost to purchase and install the
11 necessary fleet refueling or home-refueling equipment
12 for bi-fuel, dual-fuel, hybrid or dedicated vehicles.
13 (D) The cost to perform research, training
14 development and demonstration of new applications or
15 next-phase technology related to alternative fuel
16 vehicles.
17 (ii) As grants to individual residents of this
18 Commonwealth who purchase an alternative fuel vehicle for
19 the cost to purchase and install the necessary home
20 refueling equipment for bi-fuel, dual-fuel, hybrid or
21 dedicated vehicles.
22 (iii) As grants to school districts, municipal
23 authorities, political subdivisions and nonprofit
24 entities to cover the incremental cost to purchase
25 biofuel.
26 (iv) As rebates to residents of this Commonwealth to
27 meet the incremental cost to individuals who purchase a
28 bi-fuel, dual-fuel, hybrid or dedicated vehicle.
29 (2) Moneys from the fund may be expended by the
30 department as reimbursement of up to [5¢] 10¢ per gallon in a
20071S0022B0030 - 2 -
1 calendar year for up to 12,500,000 gallons of renewable fuels
2 produced by a qualified renewable fuels producer.
3 (3) One year after the effective date of this act and
4 for every year thereafter, the amount of funding by the
5 department under this subsection shall be evaluated to
6 determine whether an adjustment in funding level is
7 appropriate. The evaluation criteria shall be based on
8 economic and regulatory conditions that affect the
9 feasibility of alternative fuels and the financial solvency
10 of the fund. At no time shall the grant or rebate funding
11 amount be below the amounts specified in this section.
12 (4) No more than [2%] 1% of the fund may be used to
13 administer the provisions of this act.
14 (4.1) No more than 1% of the fund may be used to educate
15 and do outreach to car dealers and consumers about this
16 program.
17 (5) No more than 10% of the fund may be awarded to any
18 one school district, municipal authority, political
19 subdivision, nonprofit entity, corporation, limited liability
20 company, partnership or resident of this Commonwealth in any
21 one year, provided that the total amount of grants awarded
22 and rebates provided to grant and rebate recipients within a
23 political subdivision in a year shall not exceed 15% of the
24 fund. However, if the total grant and rebate money to be
25 awarded in that year is less than the total grant money
26 available for that year, the department may increase the 10%
27 and 15% funding levels established under this paragraph not
28 to exceed 40% of the fund.
29 (6) BEGINNING FISCAL YEAR 2008-2009, THROUGH AND <--
30 INCLUDING FISCAL YEAR 2010-2011, THE DEPARTMENT MAY EXPEND UP
20071S0022B0030 - 3 -
1 TO $100,000 ANNUALLY FROM THE FUND FOR A NITROGEN TIRE
2 INFLATION GRANT PROGRAM. THE DEPARTMENT MAY AWARD MATCHING
3 GRANTS OF UP TO 50% OF THE COSTS OF PURCHASING AND INSTALLING
4 A NITROGEN TIRE INFLATION SYSTEM TO RETAILERS WHO SELL TIRES
5 IN THIS COMMONWEALTH. INDIVIDUAL GRANTS MAY NOT EXCEED $5,000
6 PER NITROGEN TIRE INFLATION SYSTEM. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
7 PUBLISH GUIDELINES AS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS
8 OF THIS SUBSECTION AND MAINTAIN A REGISTRY OF ALL GRANT
9 RECIPIENTS ON THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE WORLD WIDE
10 WEB SITE.
11 * * *
12 (d) Rebate program.--There is hereby established a rebate
13 program within the department for individuals residing in this
14 Commonwealth who purchase a hybrid, biodiesel or other
15 alternative fuel vehicle.
16 (1) The department shall establish a formula and method
17 for the awarding of rebates under this program. The
18 department shall publish this information yearly in the
19 Pennsylvania Bulletin and may also publish this information
20 on the department's World Wide Web site. Rebates shall be
21 provided to the extent that funding is available for this
22 purpose. To the extent that applications for rebates exceed
23 the available funds for this program, the department may
24 award rebates on a pro rata basis.
25 (2) A request for a rebate must be submitted to the
26 department no later than six months after the purchase date
27 of the hybrid vehicle, in a form and manner prescribed by the
28 department. The department shall provide an application form
29 to an individual upon request, and the department may make
30 the application form on its World Wide Web site or through
20071S0022B0030 - 4 -
1 the place of purchase of the hybrid vehicle.
2 (3) Applicants shall provide a copy of a valid
3 Pennsylvania vehicle registration and proof of purchase when
4 making a request for a rebate under this program.
5 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
I21L27JAM/20071S0022B0030 - 5 -