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Several states have introduced meaningful transportation policies that would save oil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reward consumers for making smart efficient energy choices. Below we have highlighted recent state action that we think is worthy of attention. For a continually updated list of pending energy efficiency legislation and recent laws, be sure to check out the latest edition of the State Energy Efficiency Policy Bulletin. The bulletin includes information on energy efficiency legislation and regulation from all 50 states.
The following states are on their way to joining the ranks of states such as California and Virginia, who have been pioneers in the efficient transportation policy arena.
- New York: SB 92, Introduced January 1, 2004 would allow single-occupant drivers of hybrids to travel in high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. If passed, New York will join Arizona (SB 1429), California (AB2628), Colorado (SB91), Florida (SB88), Georgia (HB 719), and Virginia (Chapter 324) in the drive to expand their HOV lanes to allow access for hybrid electric vehicles.
- Wyoming: HB 116, introduced January 12, 2004, would cut the registration fee of vehicles that reach a fuel economy of 50 miles per gallon by 75%.
- Pennsylvania: Act 178 (SB 255), passed into law December 2004, requires the Department of Environmental Protection to offer rebates year round to cover a portion of the incremental cost (at least 20 percent) of hybrid vehicle purchases by Commonwealth residents.
- Washington: HB 1379, Introduced January 21, 2005, would require the state to adopt California’s Low Emission Vehicle standards (aka LEV II). The standards would require that a certain portion of cars sold in the state be zero or partial zero emission vehicles. In addition, automakers would be required to begin cutting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks starting in the 2009 model year and to achieve 30 percent reductions in GHG emissions from 2002 levels by 2016. The CO2 rules are currently being challenged in court in California, and a defeat could nullify any similar rules being pursued by other states. Washington becomes the eighth state, joining New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine, to have indicated it would consider adopting California’s CO2 rules.
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