Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
State Government Committee

HB 2522

Brief Description:  Encouraging the purchase of clean technologies.

Sponsors:  Representatives Sullivan, Romero, Lovick, Murray, Upthegrove, Miloscia, Chase, Rockefeller, Lantz, Simpson, Kagi, McIntire, Wood, Santos, Linville and Edwards.

Brief Summary of Bill

$The Department of General Administration (GA) must develop guidelines and criteria for the purchase of high gas mileage vehicles and look into ways to aggregate the purchasing of vehicles that use clean technologies.  The GA is also encouraged to investigate the possibility of purchasing other clean technologies, including electricity generated from a solar or wind source.

Hearing Date:  1/31/02

Staff:  Marsha Reilly (786‑7135).

Background:

The purchase of state passenger vehicles must meet the minimum standards established by the United States Secretary of Transportation pursuant to the energy policy and conservation act.  The Legislature has made a clear policy statement regarding the use of alternative fuels in motor vehicles (RCW 43.19.570 (3) (a)), and has directed the Department of General Administration (GA) to develop guidelines and criteria for the purchase of vehicles that use alternate fuels, systems, and equipment that would reduce energy cost and energy use.

The GA must also explore opportunities for the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles together with the federal government, agencies of other states, state agencies, local governments, or private organizations for less cost.

In 1991, statute was enacted requiring 30 percent of all new vehicles purchased through state contracts must be clean‑fuel vehicles, and that the percentage shall increase at the rate of 5 percent each year.

Summary of Bill:

The GA must develop guidelines and criteria for the purchase of high gas mileage vehicles, in addition to vehicles that use alternate fuels, and find ways to aggregate the purchasing of clean technologies by state and local governments.  All agencies must 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. 

The GA, along with other state and local agencies, must investigate opportunities to aggregate purchasing power for the purpose of making clean technologies available including, but not limited to, the purchase of electricity generated from a solar or wind source.  No state agency or local government is required to purchase clean technologies at prohibitive costs, but rather encouraged to make clean technologies more cost‑effective through combined purchases.

Rulemaking Authority:  No express authority.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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