The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill encouraging energy conservation through the use of public transportation. H.R. 6052, the Saving Energy through Public Transportation Act of 2008, passed the House by a vote of 322 to 98.
H.R. 6052 provides support to states and public transportation agencies and also increases incentives for commuters to choose transit options.
It authorizes $1.7 billion in funding over two years for transit agencies nationwide that are temporarily reducing transit fares or expanding transit services to meet the needs of the growing number of transit commuters.
H.R. 6052 also increases the Federal share for clean fuel and alternative fuel transit bus, ferry, or locomotive-related equipment or facilities. In fiscal years 2008 and 2009, the increased Federal share for these activities is 100% of the net capital cost of the project.
H.R. 6052 also extends the Federal transit pass benefits program to require that all Federal agencies offer transit passes to Federal employees throughout the United States. Current law requires that all Federal agencies within the National Capital Region implement a transit pass fringe benefits program and offer employees transit passes.
Data from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority covering the first three years of the National Capital Region transit pass program show that more than 15,500 automobiles were eliminated from roads in the Washington, DC area as a result of Federal employees shifting their travel mode away from single occupancy vehicle ("SOV") use to public transportation use for commuting to work.
H.R. 6052 also creates a pilot program to allow the amount expended by private providers of public transportation by vanpool for the acquisition of vans to be used as the non-Federal share for matching Federal transit funds in five communities. Under current law, only local public funds may be used as local match; this pilot program would allow private funds to be used in limited circumstances. The Department of Transportation will implement and oversee the vanpool pilot projects, and will report back to Congress on the costs, benefits, and efficiencies of the vanpool projects.
Finally, H.R. 6052 increases the Federal share for additional parking facilities at end-of-line fixed guideway stations. The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration.
CAFE Standard Revisited
Congress is revisiting the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards set last December, with the idea of accelerating the time schedule under which car makers must produce more fuel-efficient vehicles, CNN Money reported.
At a Thursday hearing held by Congress’ Select Committee on Energy Independence, lawmakers said the nation’s fuel economy efforts need to go further, citing studies that found the 35 mpg fuel economy standard could be introduced even sooner–perhaps by 2015.
"It’s our job to set the standards not the producers," said Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash). "We’ve been following them for years, and now we’re lagging far behind the rest of the world."
GM Offering 18 FFVs
General Motors (NYSE: GM) announced it will offer 18 flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) in model year 2009. These vehicles, capable of running on E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline), represent a sharp increase from the past following GM’s commitment to making its line at least half E85 compatible by 2012.
The models cover the gamut from the four-cylinder Chevrolet HHR small crossover to the full-size Cadillac Escalade ESV luxury utility.
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