The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Agency" or "agencies" - Means any state agency or all state agencies, including institutions of higher education.

(2) "Biofuels" - As defined by RCW 43.325.010(4) includes but is not limited to biodiesel, ethanol, ethanol blend fuels, and renewable liquid natural gas or liquid compressed natural gas made from biogas.

(3) "Department" - Means the department of commerce.

(4) "Ecology" - Means the department of ecology.

(5) "Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)" - Means equipment that delivers electrical energy from an electricity source to charge plug-in electric vehicle batteries.

(6) "Enterprise Services" - Means the department of enterprise services.

(7) "Greenhouse gas," "greenhouse gases," "GHG" and "GHGs" - Include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. Beginning January 1, 2012, "greenhouse gas" also includes any other gas or gases designated by ecology by rule in Table A-1 under WAC 173-441-040.

(8) "Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV)" - Means a vehicle that combines an internal combustion engine or other propulsion source with batteries, regenerative braking, and an electric motor. HEVs rely on petroleum-based or alternative fuel for power and are not plugged in to charge batteries.

(9) "Lifecycle cost" - Means the total cost of ownership over the life of an asset. This includes purchase or lease cost, operations and maintenance, depreciation, and resale or surplus value.

(10) "Light-duty vehicle" - Means a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of up to 8,500 pounds.

(11) "Medium-duty vehicle" - Means a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of between 8,500 and 10,000 pounds.

(12) "Plug-in electric vehicle (PEV)" - Means a vehicle that derives all or part of its power from electricity supplied by an external source.

(13) "Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)" - Means a vehicle that uses batteries to power an electric motor, plugs into an external source to charge batteries, and also uses petroleum-based or alternative fuel to power an internal combustion engine to charge batteries. PHEVs are also known as extended range electric vehicles.

(14) "Practicable or practicability" - Means the extent to which electricity and biofuel can be used as a fuel source for state vehicles, vessels, and construction equipment as determined by such factors as cost differentials between fuels, availability, refueling infrastructure, functional differences, technical feasibility, implementation costs, and other factors.

(15) "Reasonably available" - Means a determination dependent upon multiple dynamic factors affecting reliable volumes and delivery systems, including ability to purchase through the state procurement system, location of refueling infrastructure, and other issues. RCW 43.19.648(1) provides the department the ability to allow state agencies to substitute compressed natural gas (CNG), liquid natural gas (LNG), and propane from fossil fuel sources if the department determines that electricity and biofuel are not reasonably available.

(16) "Renewable natural gas" - Means biogas derived from landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, anaerobic digesters, and other sources of organic decomposition that has been purified to meet standards for natural gas derived from fossil fuel sources.

(17) "Vehicles, vessels, and construction equipment" - Means publicly owned vessels, vehicles, and construction equipment operated by a state agency. It does not mean aircraft and stationary electrical generating equipment.