Senate Bill Seeks To Transition U.S. To 100 Percent Zero-Emission Vehicles:
(Bergeson & Campbell’s Clients and Friends Memorandum) On November 28, 2018, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), both senior members of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, introduced legislation that would put the U.S. on the path to achieving 100 percent zero-emission vehicles (ZEV). The Zero-Emission Vehicles Act (S. 3664) builds on actions taken by ten states that have enacted state-level ZEV standards. The bill would set a comprehensive federal ZEV standard.
By 2030 at least 50 percent of all new car sales in the U.S. must be ZEVs. The legislation then ramps up the percentage by five percent each year, with automobiles being ZEVs by 2040.
The federal ZEV standard would include a crediting system. Each ZEV would receive one ZEV credit per vehicle. Plug-in hybrids and hybrids receive partial credits based on the estimated average portion of mileage traveled on the battery instead of fossil fuels.
Fuel efficient vehicles can receive partial credits based on EPA’s estimated fuel savings. ZEV credits would be allocated to automobile manufacturers, and can be sold or banked for up to five years, until 2040.
Revenues from the sales of ZEV credits will help support public infrastructure through the Highway Trust Fund. READ MORE
Bill text: S.3664 – Zero-Emission Vehicles Act of 2018
A Look at the Passenger Transportation Challenge for the US (GreenTechMedia)
