BILL REQ. #:  H-0526.1 

Read first time 02/01/13.   Referred to Committee on Environment.

     AN ACT Relating to fuel usage of publicly owned vehicles, vessels, and construction equipment; and amending RCW 43.19.648 and 43.325.080.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 43.19.648 and 2012 c 171 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Effective June 1, 2015, all state agencies, to the extent determined practicable by the rules adopted by the department of commerce pursuant to RCW 43.325.080, are required to satisfy one hundred percent of their fuel usage for operating publicly owned vessels, vehicles, and construction equipment from electricity or biofuel. Compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, or propane may be substituted for electricity or biofuel if the department of commerce determines that electricity and biofuel are not reasonably available.
     (2) Effective June 1, 2018, all local government subdivisions of the state, to the extent determined practicable by ((the rules adopted by the department of commerce)) each local government subdivision pursuant to RCW 43.325.080(2)(b), are required to satisfy one hundred percent of their fuel usage for operating publicly owned vessels, vehicles, and construction equipment from electricity or biofuel. The following are exempt from this requirement: (a) Transit agencies using compressed natural gas on June 1, 2018((, are exempt from this requirement)); (b) police, fire, and other emergency response vehicles; (c) engine retrofits that would void warranties; and (d) conventional vehicles and equipment owned before June 1, 2018. Compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, or propane may be substituted for electricity or biofuel if the department of commerce determines that electricity and biofuel are not reasonably available.
     (3) In order to phase in this transition for the state, all state agencies, to the extent determined practicable by the department of commerce by rules adopted pursuant to RCW 43.325.080, are required to achieve forty percent fuel usage for operating publicly owned vessels, vehicles, and construction equipment from electricity or biofuel by June 1, 2013. Compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, or propane may be substituted for electricity or biofuel if the department of commerce determines that electricity and biofuel are not reasonably available. The department of enterprise services, in consultation with the department of commerce, shall report to the governor and the legislature by December 1, 2013, on what percentage of the state's fuel usage is from electricity or biofuel.
     (4) Except for cars owned or operated by the Washington state patrol, when tires on vehicles in the state's motor vehicle fleet are replaced, they must be replaced with tires that have the same or better rolling resistance as the original tires.
     (5) By December 31, 2015, the state must, to the extent practicable, install electrical outlets capable of charging electric vehicles in each of the state's fleet parking and maintenance facilities.
     (6) The department of transportation's obligations under subsection (3) of this section are subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for the specific purpose identified in subsection (3) of this section.
     (7) The department of transportation's obligations under subsection (5) of this section are subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for the specific purpose identified in subsection (5) of this section unless the department receives federal or private funds for the specific purpose identified in subsection (5) of this section.
     (8) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (a) "Battery charging station" means an electrical component assembly or cluster of component assemblies designed specifically to charge batteries within electric vehicles, which meet or exceed any standards, codes, and regulations set forth by chapter 19.28 RCW and consistent with rules adopted under RCW 19.27.540.
     (b) "Battery exchange station" means a fully automated facility that will enable an electric vehicle with a swappable battery to enter a drive lane and exchange the depleted battery with a fully charged battery through a fully automated process, which meets or exceeds any standards, codes, and regulations set forth by chapter 19.28 RCW and consistent with rules adopted under RCW 19.27.540.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.325.080 and 2011 c 353 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) By June 1, 2010, the department shall adopt rules to define practicability and clarify how state agencies will be evaluated in determining whether they have met the goals set out in RCW 43.19.648(1). At a minimum, the rules must address:
     (a) Criteria for determining how the goal in RCW 43.19.648(1) will be met by June 1, 2015;
     (b) Factors considered to determine compliance with the goal in RCW 43.19.648(1), including but not limited to: The regional availability of fuels; vehicle costs; differences between types of vehicles, vessels, or equipment; the cost of program implementation; and cost differentials in different parts of the state; and
     (c) A schedule for phased-in progress towards meeting the goal in RCW 43.19.648(1) that may include different schedules for different fuel applications or different quantities of biofuels.
     (2)(a) By June 1, 2015, the department shall adopt rules to ((define practicability and)) clarify how local government subdivisions of the state will be evaluated in determining whether they have met the goals set out in RCW 43.19.648(2). At a minimum, the rules must address:
     (((a))) (i) Criteria for determining how the goal in RCW 43.19.648(2) will be met by June 1, 2018, including recommendations to local government subdivisions on mechanisms or frameworks that could be used when considering cost, fuel availability, and other conversion issues when the local government subdivisions are determining the practicability of purchasing decisions;
     (((b))) (ii) Factors considered to determine compliance with the goal in RCW 43.19.648(2), including but not limited to: The regional availability of fuels; vehicle costs; differences between types of vehicles, vessels, or equipment; the cost of program implementation; and cost differentials in different parts of the state; and
     (((c))) (iii) A schedule for phased-in progress towards meeting the goal in RCW 43.19.648(2) that may include different schedules for different fuel applications or different quantities of biofuels.
     (b) Every local government subdivision must determine whether meeting the fuel usage requirement in RCW 43.19.648(2) is practicable.