United States (Federal) AFV Manufacturer/Retrofitter
Tier 2 Vehicle and Gasoline Sulfur Program
The Tier 2 Vehicle and Gasoline Sulfur Program requires new passenger vehicles, including sport utility vehicles, pick-up trucks, and vans, to meet stringent emissions standards. New emission standards apply to all light vehicles, regardless of whether they run on gasoline, diesel, or alternative fuels. Additionally, this program requires gasoline refiners and importers to reduce the sulfur content of gasoline sold in the U.S. For more information, visit the Tier 2 Vehicle and Gasoline Sulfur Program Web site. (Reference 42 U.S. Code 7521)
Point of Contact
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Phone (202) 272-0167
http://www.epa.gov
Clean Cities
The mission of Clean Cities is to advance the energy, economic, and environmental security of the United States by supporting local initiatives to adopt practices that reduce the use of petroleum in the transportation sector. Clean Cities carries out this mission through a network of more than 80 volunteer coalitions, which develop public/private partnerships to promote alternative fuels and advanced vehicles, fuel blends, fuel economy, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction. Clean Cities provides information about financial opportunities, coordinates technical assistance projects; updates and maintains databases and Web sites, and publishes fact sheets, newsletters, and related technical and informational materials. For more information, visit the Clean Cities Web site.
Point of Contact
U.S. Department of Energy
Phone (800) 342-5363
Fax (202) 586-4403
http://www.energy.gov
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 Signed Into Law
President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 (House Resolution 6), designed to improve vehicle fuel economy and help reduce U.S. dependence on oil. EISA aims to increase the supply of alternative fuel sources by setting a mandatory Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requiring transportation fuel sold in the U.S. to contain a minimum of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2022, including advanced and cellulosic biofuels and biomass-based diesel. In addition, the law requires the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard to reach 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020. The EISA is projected to reduce energy consumption by 7% and greenhouse gas emissions by 9% by 2030. For a summary of the major provisions set forth by the legislation, visit the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 page of the Federal Incentives & Laws Web site. The complete legislation can be viewed on the Library of Congress Web site.
Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)
CAFE is the sales weighted average fuel economy, expressed in miles per gallon, of a manufacturer's fleet of passenger cars or light trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 8,500 pounds manufactured for sale in the U.S. for any given model year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for establishing, amending, and enforcing the CAFE standards, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for calculating the average fuel economy for each manufacturer. Manufacturers are encouraged to produce vehicles capable of operating on alternative fuels and may receive credits toward average fuel economy for every alternative fuel vehicle produced, including dual fuel and flexible fuel vehicles. For more information about CAFE, including current standards for passenger cars and light trucks, visit the CAFE Web site. (Reference 49 U.S. Code Chapter 329)
Point of Contact
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
Phone (888) 327-4236
http://www.nhtsa.gov/
Aftermarket Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Conversions
Conventional original equipment manufacturer vehicles altered to operate on propane, natural gas, methane gas, ethanol, or electricity are classified as aftermarket AFV conversions. All vehicle conversions, except those that are completed for a vehicle to run on electricity, must meet current applicable U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. For more information about vehicle conversion certification requirements, see the Alternative Fuels & Advanced Vehicles Data Center's Conversions Web site. (Reference 40 CFR 85)
Point of Contact
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Phone (202) 272-0167
http://www.epa.gov
Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV) Manufacturing Incentives
Through the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, manufacturers of ATVs and components for such vehicles may be eligible for direct loans for up to 30% of the cost of re-equipping, expanding, or establishing manufacturing facilities in the U.S. used to produce qualified ATVs or ATV components. Qualified ATVs must be light-duty vehicles that meet specified federal emission standards and fuel economy requirements. Qualified components must be designed for ATVs and installed for the purpose of meeting ATV performance requirements, as determined by the U.S. Department of Energy. (Reference Public Law 110-140, Section 136)
Point of Contact
U.S. Department of Energy
Phone (800) 342-5363
Fax (202) 586-4403
http://www.energy.gov
U.S. DOT Announces New Fuel Economy Standards for Model Year 2011 Vehicles
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule establishing the average fuel economy standards for Model Year (MY) 2011 passenger cars and light trucks. The new standards will raise the industry-wide combined average to 27.3 miles per gallon (mpg), as estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is an increase of 2 mpg over the 2010 model year average. The standards will save an estimated 887 million gallons of fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 8.3 million metric tons. The MY 2011 standards will use an attribute-based system, which sets fuel economy standards for individual vehicle models based on size. DOT is working on a multi-year fuel economy plan to ensure that the industry-wide combined average of all new passenger cars and light trucks is not less than 35 miles per gallon by MY 2020. This plan will include an evaluation of fuel saving technologies, market conditions, and future product plans from the manufacturers. DOT will to coordinate with interested stakeholders and other federal agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For more information, see the final rule published in the Federal Register (PDF 897 KB). Download Adobe Reader.
U.S. EPA and U.S. DOT Announce Upcoming Joint Rulemaking to Establish Federal Vehicle Standards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on behalf of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), have issued a Notice of Upcoming Joint Rulemaking to establish federal vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and fuel economy standards. This action follows President Obama's announcement of a national policy to reduce GHG emissions and increase fuel economy for new passenger cars, light-duty-trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. As EPA is responsible for regulating air pollution under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and NHTSA is responsible for regulating Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, the two agencies will work in coordination to propose standards for GHG emissions and fuel economy, respectively. The standards will apply to Model Years 2012 through 2016 and will take into account the expected cost and commercial availability of new technologies. For more information see the Notice of Upcoming Joint Rulemaking and the White House press release.
U.S. EPA Grants California Vehicle Emissions Waiver Request
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted California a vehicle emissions waiver, which will allow the state to set standards to help control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from motor vehicles beginning with the 2009 model year. California first requested a waiver in December 2005, which was denied by EPA in March 2008. In early 2009, the California Air Resources Board submitted a letter requesting that EPA reconsider the waiver denial. Soon after, President Obama directed EPA to revisit the waiver request via a Presidential Memorandum. EPA re-opened a written comment period and held a public hearing to do so. Based on the review of statutory language, legislative history, comments received, and technological considerations concerning lead time and implementation costs, EPA determined that a waiver should be granted. This decision is consistent with EPA's traditional interpretation of the Clean Air Act, which gives EPA the authority to allow California to adopt its own emission standards for new vehicles due to the severity of the state's air pollution challenges. Once new federal vehicle standards for fuel efficiency and GHGs take effect, California has committed to allow automakers that show compliance with the national standards to also be deemed in compliance with state requirements. For more information regarding this decision, refer to the EPA press release and EPA's California GHG Waiver Request Web site.
U.S. EPA and U.S. DOT Issue Proposed Rule to Establish Federal Vehicle Standards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have issued a joint proposal to establish a national program consisting of new federal vehicle standards for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improved fuel economy. The standards would apply to Model Year 2012 through 2016 passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles, and are expected to increase average fuel economy by approximately 5% per year. The proposed standards would create the first federal limits on vehicle GHG emissions. For more information, see EPA's Transportation and Climate Regulations and Standards Web site, NHTSA's Laws/Regulations/Guidance Web site, and the proposed rule published in the Federal Register (PDF 4.2 MB). Download Adobe Reader.
U.S. EPA Releases Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rules
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued the Final Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Rule which will require mandatory reporting of GHG emissions from large sources in the U.S. Beginning on January 1, 2010, manufacturers of vehicles and engines, suppliers of fossil fuels or industrial GHGs, and facilities that emit at least 25,000 metric tons of GHGs per year will be required to submit annual reports to EPA. Vehicle and engine manufacturers outside the light-duty sector will be required to report carbon dioxide emissions levels beginning with Model Year 2011 and other GHG emissions in subsequent model years. This includes heavy trucks, motorcycles, and non-road engines and equipment; requirements related to light-duty vehicles are not included in this rulemaking. The new reporting system covers approximately 85% of the nation's GHG emissions and will provide comprehensive data for analysis to help inform future policy decisions. For more information, see EPA's Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Web site.
Greenhouse Gas Reporting Requirement
Beginning January 1, 2010, vehicle and engine manufacturers are required to report annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Vehicle and engine manufacturers outside of the light-duty sector are required to report carbon dioxide emissions levels beginning with Model Year 2011 and other GHG emissions in subsequent model years. This includes heavy trucks, motorcycles, and non-road engines and equipment. The reporting requirement also applies to suppliers of fossil fuels or industrial GHGs and facilities that emit at least 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. For more information, see EPA's Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Web site. (Reference 40 CFR 86-90, 94, 98, 1033, 1039, 1042, 1045, 1048, 1051, 1054, and 1065)
Point of Contact
Greenhouse Gas Mandatory Reporting Rule
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Phone (202) 272-0167
ghgmrr@epa.gov
http://www.epa.gov
President Obama Signs Executive Order to Set Sustainability Goals for Federal Agencies
President Obama has issued an Executive Order that requires each agency to establish a Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan, focusing on improvements in environmental, energy, and economic performance. Each agency will be required to measure, reduce, and report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and establish an agency-wide GHG emissions reduction target for 2020 as compared to 2008 baseline emissions. Reductions will be achieved through a variety of measures including reduced petroleum consumption, use of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), and fleet optimization efforts. Federal fleets of 20 vehicles or more will be required to reduce petroleum consumption by a minimum of 2% per year through the end of fiscal year 2020 as compared to 2005 baseline usage. Within 180 days, the U.S. Department of Energy, in coordination with the General Services Administration (GSA), will issue guidance on federal fleet management, addressing the acquisition of AFVs, use of alternative fuels, fuel economy improvements, fleet optimization, renewable fueling infrastructure, and other petroleum reduction strategies. For more information, see the White House press release and the Executive Order (PDF 87 KB). Download Adobe Reader.
