BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1170
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Date of Hearing: July 10, 2001
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS
Lou Correa, Chair
SB 1170 (Sher) - As Amended: July 3, 2001
SENATE VOTE : 30-8
SUBJECT : State vehicle fleet.
SUMMARY : This bill requires various state agencies to develop
and adopt fuel-efficiency and air pollution emission standards
and recommendations governing the purchase of new state vehicles
and replacement tires that will result in reduced petroleum
consumption. Specifically, this bill :
1)Provides that it is the policy of the state to minimize the
use of petroleum-based fuels by state agencies, to purchase
the cleanest and most efficient vehicles and replacement
tires, to maximize the use of alternative fuels, and to
implement all other practicable and cost-effective
conservation measures.
2)Requires the California Energy Commission (CEC), the
Department of General Services (DGS), and the State Air
Resources Board (ARB) to adopt fuel-efficiency standards
governing the purchase of new state vehicles and replacement
tires by the state.
3)Requires CEC, by January 31, 2003, to develop and adopt
recommendations, for consideration by the Governor and
Legislature, for developing fuel-efficiency ratings for tires.
4)Requires CEC and DGS to conduct a study analyzing the costs
and benefits of a 10 percent reduction in state fleet energy
consumption by January 1, 2005, and directs the state to
pursue a waiver from federal requirements governing the state
purchase of vehicles in specified circumstances.
5)Requires CEC, DGS, and ARB, by January 31, 2003, and annually
thereafter, to develop and adopt air pollution emission
specifications governing the purchase of passenger and
light-duty trucks that meet or exceed the state's Ultra-Low
Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards for exhaust emissions.
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EXISTING LAW
1)Finds and declares that petroleum use as an energy resource
contributes substantially to specified public health and
environmental problems.
2)Requires CEC to acquire and analyze information to determine
future energy problems and uncertainties, including impacts of
petroleum price increases and projected conservation measures
on the demand for energy.
3)Provides that it is the policy of the state to evaluate the
economic and environmental costs of petroleum use and to
establish a state transportation energy policy that results in
the least environmental and economic cost to the state.
4)Requires DGS, under the California Integrated Waste Management
Act, to use retreaded tires as replacements in support of the
state's recycling efforts.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
According to supporters, this bill is intended to put California
at the forefront of efforts to reduce fuel consumption, largely
through the purchase of fuel-efficient vehicles and replacement
tires. California's rising gasoline consumption threatens not
only our environment, but also our economic well being.
According to a study by CEC, we can expect more frequent and
severe gasoline price shocks in the future.
The State of California, through DGS, purchases about 1,500
fleet vehicles every year. This figure includes passenger
vehicles, but does not include patrol cars and other special
purpose vehicles. Under federal law, 75 percent of state fleet
purchases must be alternative fuel capable. There is no
requirement for these vehicles to actually run on alternative
fuels, and, due to limited alternative fueling infrastructure
and availability, most run on gasoline.
Current DGS policy is to purchase certified Ultra Low Emission
Vehicles (ULEV) or Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (SULEV) for
the 25 percent of its fleet not required to be
alternative-fueled. The ULEV and SULEV designations relate to
SB 1170
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emissions, not fuel efficiency. However, it could be argued
that the conversion of the state fleet into low and zero
emission vehicles would have the additional benefit of
significantly increasing fuel efficiency.
According to supporters, original equipment tires are three to
four percent more fuel-efficient than typical replacement tires.
This bill requires CEC to develop and adopt recommendations for
developing fuel-efficiency ratings for tires. Supporters
suggest that requiring more fuel-efficient replacement tires is
a cost-effective method to reduce fuel consumption.
Recent amendments address the possible conflict between
provisions of this bill that seek to achieve greater levels of
fuel-efficiency and existing statutes that seek to achieve
greater levels of recycling with respect to the purchase of
replacement tires. A CEC and DGS study required by this bill
includes, among other things, an analysis of the costs and
benefits of using fuel-efficient tires relative to using
retreaded tires, as described in the Retreaded Tire Program.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Lung Association of California
Clean Power Campaign
Natural Resources Defense Council
Planning and Conservation League
Sierra Club
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Mark McKenzie / B. & P. / (916)
319-3301