Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 102 Part 3.djvu/490

 102 STAT. 2442

PUBLIC LAW 100-494—OCT. 14, 1988 (9) ongoing pollution and deforestation may be contributing now to an irreversible process producing unacceptable global climate changes; necessary actions must be identified and implemented in time to protect the climate, including the development of technol(^es to control increased carbon dioxide emissions that result with methanol from a coal-to-methanol industry.

42 USC 6374

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this Act is to encourage— (1) the development and widespread use of methanol, ethanol, and natural gas as transportation fuels by consumers; and (2) the production of methanol, ethanol, and natural gas powered motor vehicles. SEC. 4. AMENDMENT OF ENERGY POLICY AND CONSERVATION ACT.

(a) AMENDMENT.—Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act is amended by adding at the end the following new part:

"PART J—ENCOURAGING THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS 42 USC 6374.

"SEC. 400AA. ALTERNATIVE FUEL USE BY UGHT DUTY FEDERAL VEHICLES. "(a) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PROGRAM.—(1) B^inning in the

fiscal year ending September 30, 1990, the Secreta^ shall ensure, with the cooperation of other appropriate agencies and consistent with other Federal law, that the maximum number practicable of the passenger automobiles and light duty trucks acquired annually for use by the Federal Government shall be alcohol powered vehicles, dual energy vehicles, natural gas powered vehicles, or natural gas dual energy vehicles. "(2) In any determination of whether the acquisition of a vehicle is practicable under paragraph (1), the initial cost of such vehicle to the United States shall not be considered as a factor unless the initial cost of such vehicle exceeds the initial cost of a comparable gasoline or diesel fueled vehicle by at least 5 percent. "(3) The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable and consistent with this part, ensure that the number of dual energy vehicles acquired under this subsection is at least as great as the number of alcohol powered vehicles acquired under this subsection, and that the number of natural gas dual energy vehicles acquired under this subsection is at least as great as the number of natural gas powered vehicles acquired under this subsection. To the extent practicable, both vehicles capable of operating on alcohol and vehicles capable of operating on natural gas shall be acquired in carrying out this subsection, and such vehicles shall be supplied by original equipment manufacturers. "(b) STUDIES.—(I)(A) The Secretary, in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, shall conduct a study of the vehicles acquired under subsection (a), which shall at a minimum address— "(i) the performance of such vehicles, including performance in cold weather and at high altitude; "(ii) the fuel economy, safety, and emissions of such vehicles; and

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