HB 4196

Abstract

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a Fleet Electrification Incentive Program to provide fleet owners and operators in the State grants to promote the use of eligible electric vehicles. Provides that the Program shall offer qualifying purchasers a grant up to specified base amounts toward the purchase of eligible electric vehicles based on the Class of vehicle. Requires the Agency to award grants under the Program on a competitive basis according to the availability of funding. Provides that to be eligible to receive a grant under the Program a purchaser must satisfy all of the required criteria. Provides that the Agency shall give weight to an application based upon the potential impact of the geographic location and route of the purchaser's fleet on pollution affecting an equity investment eligible community. Requires the Agency to ensure that resale of a vehicle serving a public school or located within an equity investment eligible community shall result in the vehicle servicing a similarly situated community. Provides that grants under the Program may be combined with other public incentives but the total of governmental incentives shall not exceed a maximum of 80% of the purchase price of the vehicle. Requires the Agency to set aside 20% of the appropriated funds under the Program for grants to the purchaser of electric school buses. Provides that all awards granted are subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. Defines terms. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Removes a provision that the Environmental Protection Agency shall offer increased grant incentives of an additional 15% of the base amount for the purchase of eligible electric vehicles that will be located within an equity investment eligible community. Provides that the Agency shall use a points-based evaluation and shall award additional points to an application from an eligible purchaser whose eligible electric vehicles are to be domiciled in an equity investment eligible community (rather than give weight to an application based on the potential impact of the location and route of the purchaser's fleet on pollution affecting an equity investment eligible community). Adds a definition of "eligible purchaser" using language from the introduced bill describing purchasers who are eligible to receive a grant under the Program. Makes conforming changes. Makes other changes.