Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Education Appropriations Committee |
HB 1734
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Creating a program for conversion of plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Sponsors: Representative Chase.
Brief Summary of Bill |
|
Hearing Date: 2/11/09
Staff: Debbie Driver (786-7143)
Background:
Shoreline Community College is one of 34 community and technical colleges within the state that are coordinated by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (State Board). The State Board distributes state funding to each of the colleges while each college retains tuition revenues locally.
Located in Shoreline, the college offers a variety of academic, workforce and basic skills courses, and certificates and degrees. Shoreline Community College currently offers a variety of alternative energy and automotive programs, including a Zero Energy Building Practices Certificate and a certificate in Solar/Photovoltaic (Electric) PV Design. In addition, Shoreline partners with Washington State University to support the Northwest Solar Center (Center), which provides academic programs focused on solar power. Shoreline Community College also partners with Toyota to offer an automotive program called Toyota Technical Education Network Program (T-TEN).
Alternative fuel vehicles are vehicles that operate with fuels other than petroleum-based gasoline and diesel. Hybrid electric vehicles are one type of alternative fuel vehicle, and typically combine the internal combustion engine of a conventional vehicle with the battery and electric motor of an electric vehicle.
Summary of Bill:
Shoreline Community College is provided funding to support the development of a prototype solar/vehicle-to-grid charging station. The prototype will be developed by students in collaboration with Toyota and will be designed to provide the energy necessary to operate plug-in hybrid vehicles. Funding will be used to acquire two hybrid vehicles, hybrid conversion kits, and a charging station. The vehicles will be retrofitted and sold. Revenues from the vehicle sales will be deposited into a revolving account within the college and will provide an ongoing source of program funds.
Appropriation: The bill includes an appropriation of $213,000 to Shoreline Community College.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 2, 2009.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.