Legislature(1993 - 1994)
03/21/1994 01:40 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 330 An Act relating to the use of natural gas as a motor vehicle fuel in state owned vehicles. CS HB 330 (TRS) was reported out of Committee with "no recommendations" and with a zero fiscal note by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities dated 3/16/94. HOUSE BILL 330 "An Act relating to the use of natural gas as a motor vehicle fuel in state owned vehicles." REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN stated that natural gas is being used as vehicle fuel in several states and provinces across the continent. He pointed out that the supply of natural gas is abundant in the world, although Alaska appears to be waiting for that supply to arrive. Representative Green remarked that private sector fleet managers have expressed interest in utilizing natural gas, which would offer a number of advantages. The State currently uses natural gas in a few cars. The barrier to more widespread use would be refueling. Presently, the range of natural gas vehicles is limited and there are few refueling stations. HB 330 would dedicate a minimum number of state vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG) use. By establishing the critical mass in the NGV fleet, investors would then have the confidence to build refueling stations. He concluded that with the development of the refueling infrastructure, the private sector fleet managers could then utilize CNG. Representative Brown asked if DOTPF had evaluated cost efficiency use of natural gas. Representative Green stated they had not. JEFFERY C. OTTESEN, CHIEF, RIGHT-OF-WAY & ENVIRONMENT, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES (DOTPF), testified that the Department would support the legislation and monitor air quality and cost benefits. He stressed that the legislation would be "good business". Representative Martin asked the number of vehicles in the DOTPF fleet. Mr. Ottesen responded there are 900 hundred vehicles in the fleet, and 150 new vehicles are purchased each year. Currently, there are three vehicles dedicated to using natural gas. 2 Representative Brown questioned the cost difference between a natural gas run vehicle and a conventional vehicle. Mr. Ottesen noted that the difference would be approximately $2.0 thousand dollars depending on the size of the vehicle. Representative Martin MOVED to report CS HB 330 (TRS) out of Committee with individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal note. Representative Brown OBJECTED. She asked the changes within the Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) air plan which would allow that Department to use federal funds. MEAD TREADWELL, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, remarked that the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for air quality will be enacted shortly, and once it is signed, that option will be available to the Department. He added that SEAMAC funds are DOTPF budget allocations designated for air quality and that they are required to be spent for air quality under federal law. Representative Brown asked if those funds would require matching state funds. Mr. Ottesen replied that they would require matching state funds, although there is $8 million dollars which will lapse at the end of this year if not used. Representative Brown emphasized that there are costs associated with the legislation although the fiscal note indicates no impact. Representative Brown WITHDREW HER OBJECTION to move the bill from Committee. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CS HB 330 (TRS) was reported out of Committee with "no recommendation" and with a zero fiscal note by the Department of Public Facilities dated 3/16/94.
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