HB 2522-S.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Directs the development of guidelines and criteria for the purchase of vehicles, high gas mileage vehicles, alternate vehicle fuels and systems, equipment, and materials that reduce overall energy-related costs and energy use by the state.

     Requires all state agencies to investigate and determine whether or not they can make clean technologies more cost-effective by combining their purchasing power before completing a planned vehicle purchase.

     Declares that the provisions for purchasing clean-fuel vehicles under this act are intended as minimum levels.  The department should seek to increase the purchasing levels of clean-fuel vehicles above the minimum.  The department must also investigate all opportunities to aggregate their purchasing with local governments to determine whether or not they can lower their costs and make it cost-efficient to increase the percentage of clean-fuel or high gas mileage vehicles in both the state and local fleets.

     Directs the department of general administration, in cooperation with public agencies, to investigate opportunities to aggregate the purchase of clean technologies with other public agencies to determine whether or not combined purchasing can reduce the unit cost of clean technologies.

     Provides that state agencies that are retail electric customers shall investigate opportunities to aggregate the purchase of electricity produced from generation resources that are fueled by wind or solar energy for their facilities located within a single utility's service area, to determine whether or not combined purchasing can reduce the unit cost of those resources.

     Declares that no public agency is required under this act to purchase clean technologies at prohibitive costs.

     Provides that, in preparing the biennial energy report required under RCW 43.21F.045(2)(h) to be transmitted to the governor and the legislature by December 1, 2002, the department of community, trade, and economic development must include the following information:  (1) The percentage of clean-fuel vehicles purchased in 2001 through a state contract pursuant to RCW 43.19.637; and

     (2) The results of efforts by the department of general administration and other state agencies to aggregate purchasing of clean technologies.