Assembly, No. 2399 state of new jersey 217th legislature

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 4, 2016

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman JOHN F. MCKEON

District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman DeAngelo and Assemblywoman Muoio

SYNOPSIS

Establishes the Renewable Energy Infrastructure and Advanced Technology Vehicle Task Force.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

The Legislature therefore determines that it is essential for the State to recommit to its efforts to develop and promote alternative fuels and technologies and the use of vehicles that employ them, and to do this, in part, by establishing a permanent task force to monitor and address these issues.

The task force shall consist of the following seven members, or their designees, all of whom shall serve ex officio: the State Treasurer; the Attorney General; the Commissioner of Transportation; the Commissioner of Environmental Protection; the President of the Board of Public Utilities; the Executive Director of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority; and the Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of the New Jersey Commerce, Economic Growth and Tourism Commission.

3. a. The task force shall be considered organized upon the date of enactment of this act, and the Governor, upon the date of enactment of this act, shall designate the chair and vice-chair of the task force from among the members of the task force. Thereafter, the Governor, at the commencement of each biennial session of the Legislature, shall designate the chair and vice-chair of the task force, who may be the chair or vice-chair from the preceding or any previous biennial session.

b. As soon as practicable thereafter, the task force shall establish at least one working committee from representatives of the State departments, agencies, and entities represented on the task force to assist with the work of the task force, but may establish as many working committees as warranted by the goals of the task force. In developing recommendations for legislative and regulatory action and furthering the goals of the task force, the members of the task force and its working committees shall consult as much as possible with individuals, companies, corporations, organizations, and other private entities with expertise in the area of fuels, fueling infrastructure, and vehicle technology and manufacture.

c. The task force and its working committees are authorized to call upon any department, office, division or agency of State government to provide such data, information, personnel and assistance as deemed necessary to discharge their responsibilities under this act. Each department, office, division and agency of this State shall, to the extent not inconsistent with law, cooperate with the task force and its working committees to furnish them with such information, personnel and assistance as is necessary to accomplish the purpose of this act.
4. a. The task force shall:

(1) designate the vehicles that are alternative fuel vehicles, those that are advanced technology vehicles, and the fuels that are alternative fuels, provided that alternative fuel vehicle and alternative fuel designations are consistent with federal designations for compliance with federal requirements;

(2) monitor the development of fuels and vehicle technology, updating the designations established pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection in keeping with these developments and any changes in federal law and regulation;

(3) assist the Department of the Treasury in developing and coordinating alternative fuel vehicle and advanced technology vehicle acquisition plans and the use of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles by State agencies;

(4) create and implement a compliance monitoring program to ensure that State fleet vehicles with bi-fuel and dual-fuel capabilities operate utilizing an alternative fuel to the maximum extent practicable;

(5) work with individual State agencies to remove regulatory and other non-economic barriers to increase the use of these vehicles in public and private fleets throughout the State;

(6) assist the State Treasurer in establishing life-cycle cost analysis guidelines for the purchase, lease and use of vehicles by State agencies;

(7) continue to administer an annual Clean Fleets Partner Award to public and private fleets demonstrating outstanding leadership in acquisition and use of these vehicles;

(8) assist the New Jersey Economic Development Authority in reviewing requests for financial assistance from companies that wish to purchase these vehicles;

(9) assist the State Treasurer in preparing a plan for developing any refueling or recharging infrastructure necessary to support the use of these vehicles by the State motor vehicle fleet;

(10) assist the State Treasurer in creating an incentive program for other public entities to defray the incremental costs of converting vehicles to alternative fuel use or the use of other types of fuel or technology;

(11) identify the current fueling infrastructure challenges preventing the use or increased use of alternative fuels and technologies, the cost of overcoming these challenges, and funding sources for developing and expanding the required fueling infrastructure; and

(12) wherever possible, pursue the State application for identified and potential sources of funding.

b. No later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this act, the task force shall meet and consult with representatives of gasoline and fuel retailers, distributors, and manufacturers concerning recommendations for the development or expansion of, as applicable, the fueling infrastructure for these fuels and shall include its findings in its first annual report submitted pursuant to section 5 of this act.

STATEMENT

The task force would consist of seven ex officio members, or their designees: the State Treasurer; the Attorney General; the Commissioner of Transportation; the Commissioner of Environmental Protection; the President of the Board of Public Utilities; the Executive Director of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority; and the Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of the New Jersey Commerce, Economic Growth and Tourism Commission.

The bill directs the task force to establish at least one working committee to further the work of the task force, and authorizes the task force to hire clerical staff, call upon the assistance of State agencies, and consult with private entities with expertise in the area of fuels, fueling infrastructure, and vehicle technology and manufacture.

In addition to the responsibilities of its predecessor task force also enumerated in this bill, the Renewable Energy Infrastructure and Advanced Technology Vehicle Task Force would designate the vehicles that are alternative fuel vehicles and advanced technology vehicles, monitor the development of fuels and vehicle technology, and update these designations based on developing fuels and technologies and changes in federal law and regulation. The task force would identify the current fueling infrastructure challenges preventing the use or increased use of alternative fuels and technologies, the cost of overcoming these challenges, and funding sources for developing and expanding the required fueling infrastructure. Finally, wherever possible, the task force would pursue State application for such funding.