Title: An act relating to alternative fuels.

Brief Description: Requesting information on the use of alternative fuels.

Sponsors: Representatives Hudgins, Dunshee, Wood and Chase.

Brief History: Passed House: 1/23/08, 97-0.

Committee Activity: Water, Energy & Telecommunications: 2/20/08, 2/26/08 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WATER, ENERGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.Signed by Senators Rockefeller, Chair; Murray, Vice Chair; Honeyford, Ranking Minority Member; Delvin, Hatfield, Holmquist, Morton, Oemig and Regala.

Staff: Scott Boettcher (786-7416)

Background: The state's entire motor vehicle fleet consists of about 12,000 vehicles. The state's motor pool, which is controlled by the Department of General Administration (GA), consists of about 1,400 vehicles. Approximately 75 percent of motor pool vehicles are flexible-fuel vehicles that can be fueled by either ethanol or gasoline. Because ethanol is not readily available in the state, motor pool vehicles are fueled with gasoline.

The Department of Transportation, Washington State Patrol, Department of Natural Resources, and Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission own or operate about 162 refueling stations for the use of state vehicles.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Amendments): The Energy Policy Division of the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (DCTED) must report to the Legislature by December 31, 2009 on:

• the practicability of offering alternative fuels at different state agency refueling sites for state agency use and also for public use;
• state agency plans and costs for renovating and/or constructing refueling stations;
• prioritization of state agency refueling sites that could most feasibly offer alternative fuels and what types of alternative fuels; and
• the cost of reconfiguring existing refueling stations or constructing new refueling stations to include alternative fuels and to offer alternative fuels to other state agencies.

The report by DCTED must also report on the efforts of the GA to develop biofuel fueling stations.

Alternative fuels are identified as including biodiesel, ethanol (E85), hydrogen, and liquid natural gas.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY WATER, ENERGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE (Recommended Amendments): Requires the Energy Policy Division DCTED to coordinate a report to the Legislature by December 31, 2009, that: (1) provides refueling site information from state agencies as required by the Act; and (2) provides a progress report by the Department of General Administration on their efforts to develop biofuel fueling stations.

Specifies that alternative fuels to be included as part of state agency refueling plans must emit lesser amounts of greenhouse gases than conventional fuels.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The bill is necessary to spur development of distribution and consumption networks for alternative fuels. State agencies own and operate many vehicles and fueling stations. Directing state agencies to examine the practicability of offering alternative fuels, and retrofitting existing fueling sites to offer alternative fuels, can help to create conducive market conditions.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Hudgins, prime sponsor.