FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aaron Huertas, 202-331-5458
TWO NEW PROPOSED BILLS IN CONGRESS WOULD "MOVE ELECTRIC DRIVE VEHICLES INTO THE FAST LANE," SCIENCE GROUP SAYS
STATEMENT BY DAVID FRIEDMAN, UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS
WASHINGTON (May 27, 2010) – Reps. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Judy Biggert (R-Ill.), Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), and Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) today introduced the Electric Drive Vehicle Deployment Act of 2010, a bill that would help reduce U.S. oil dependence by funding programs to put hundreds of thousands of electric drive cars and trucks on the road over the next five years, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) are expected to introduce a similar bill later today. UCS will update the online version of this release after the Senate bill is released.
The bipartisan House bill would establish new funding to support efforts in five communities to work with industry, electric utilities and other organizations to deploy electric drive vehicles, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles. The bill also would help establish and expand recharging infrastructure for plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. It does not expand support for hydrogen refueling infrastructure, however. The bill would augment funding currently available from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and energy bills passed in 2005 and 2007.
UCS staff will review the Senate bill after it is introduced later today and will be available to discuss any differences between the two bills.
Below is a statement by David Friedman, research director of UCS's Clean Vehicles program:
"Electrifying our cars and trucks in the coming decades will be a key part the broad strategy needed to cure our oil addiction. It's gratifying to see lawmakers on both sides of the aisle working together on a smart, sensible policy. The oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is just the latest reminder that we desperately need to end our addiction to oil. It threatens our economy, our national security, and our environment.
"This bill would move electric drive technologies into the fast lane. It would boost funds for producing, buying and selling electric drive vehicles and electric recharging infrastructure and help overcome some of the other barriers to electric drive vehicles, such as outdated codes, standards and zoning requirements. By requiring a comprehensive plan from each community that applies for funding, this bill would ensure that an electric drive vehicle future is built from the ground up. If the Senate bill is sufficiently close to the House bill, it also would help kick electric drive technology into high gear.
"This bill is an important contribution to the debate over comprehensive clean energy and climate change legislation. It should be integrated into broader climate, energy and oil saving efforts in a way that guarantees long-term funding for this ambitious and essential program. The bill also should be updated to ensure that it provides a level playing field for all electric drive vehicles and the necessary infrastructure to recharge and refuel them, including hydrogen and fuel cell vehicle technology."
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The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading U.S. science-based nonprofit organization working for a healthy environment and a safer world. Founded in 1969, UCS is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and also has offices in Berkeley, Chicago and Washington, D.C. For more information, go to www.ucsusa.org.
Contact: Aaron Huertas, 202-331-5458
TWO NEW PROPOSED BILLS IN CONGRESS WOULD "MOVE ELECTRIC DRIVE VEHICLES INTO THE FAST LANE," SCIENCE GROUP SAYS
STATEMENT BY DAVID FRIEDMAN, UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS
WASHINGTON (May 27, 2010) – Reps. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Judy Biggert (R-Ill.), Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), and Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) today introduced the Electric Drive Vehicle Deployment Act of 2010, a bill that would help reduce U.S. oil dependence by funding programs to put hundreds of thousands of electric drive cars and trucks on the road over the next five years, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) are expected to introduce a similar bill later today. UCS will update the online version of this release after the Senate bill is released.
The bipartisan House bill would establish new funding to support efforts in five communities to work with industry, electric utilities and other organizations to deploy electric drive vehicles, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles. The bill also would help establish and expand recharging infrastructure for plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. It does not expand support for hydrogen refueling infrastructure, however. The bill would augment funding currently available from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and energy bills passed in 2005 and 2007.
UCS staff will review the Senate bill after it is introduced later today and will be available to discuss any differences between the two bills.
Below is a statement by David Friedman, research director of UCS's Clean Vehicles program:
"Electrifying our cars and trucks in the coming decades will be a key part the broad strategy needed to cure our oil addiction. It's gratifying to see lawmakers on both sides of the aisle working together on a smart, sensible policy. The oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is just the latest reminder that we desperately need to end our addiction to oil. It threatens our economy, our national security, and our environment.
"This bill would move electric drive technologies into the fast lane. It would boost funds for producing, buying and selling electric drive vehicles and electric recharging infrastructure and help overcome some of the other barriers to electric drive vehicles, such as outdated codes, standards and zoning requirements. By requiring a comprehensive plan from each community that applies for funding, this bill would ensure that an electric drive vehicle future is built from the ground up. If the Senate bill is sufficiently close to the House bill, it also would help kick electric drive technology into high gear.
"This bill is an important contribution to the debate over comprehensive clean energy and climate change legislation. It should be integrated into broader climate, energy and oil saving efforts in a way that guarantees long-term funding for this ambitious and essential program. The bill also should be updated to ensure that it provides a level playing field for all electric drive vehicles and the necessary infrastructure to recharge and refuel them, including hydrogen and fuel cell vehicle technology."
###
The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading U.S. science-based nonprofit organization working for a healthy environment and a safer world. Founded in 1969, UCS is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and also has offices in Berkeley, Chicago and Washington, D.C. For more information, go to www.ucsusa.org.
