Bill Text: CA SJR29 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Natural gas vehicle fuel standards.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-07-03 - Referred to Com. on A. & A.R. [SJR29 Detail]
Download: California-2013-SJR29-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: SJR 29 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Senator Lieu
JUNE 10, 2014
Relative to natural gas vehicle fuel standards.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SJR 29, as introduced, Lieu. Natural gas vehicle fuel standards.
This measure would urge any official of the State of California
involved with the National Conference on Weights and Measures and
acting in his or her official capacity to strongly support the
natural gas vehicle fuel standards recommended by the Natural Gas
Steering Committee of the National Conference on Weights and
Measures. The measure would also urge the United States Department of
Commerce, the National Conference on Weights and Measures, and the
National Institute of Standards and Technology to work with the
natural gas industry to develop natural gas vehicle fuel standards
that are user and consumer friendly and that include recognition of
the gasoline and diesel gallon equivalent units for dispensing
natural gas.
Fiscal committee: no.
WHEREAS, The United States Constitution reserves to the states the
right to regulate commerce and the weights and measures system
within their borders; and
WHEREAS, In 1905, the National Bureau on Standards called for a
meeting of the states to discuss the lack of uniform standards for
weights and measurement in the United States that was crippling
economic growth; and
WHEREAS, In 1906, participating states met again, which marked the
birth of the National Conference on Weights and Measures; and
WHEREAS, The National Conference on Weights and Measures has
evolved into a not-for-profit corporation that ensures national
standards keep pace with evolving technology and marketing practices;
and
WHEREAS, Natural gas vehicles and infrastructure continues to
develop in the State of California, and more largely, in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, Natural gas is the cleanest burning alternative
transportation fuel commercially available today; and
WHEREAS, Natural gas vehicles emit 20 to 30 percent less
greenhouse gases than their diesel and gasoline counterparts; and
WHEREAS, The utilization of natural gas as a motor vehicle fuel
has seen a massive increase over the past five years due to stable
and affordable pricing; and
WHEREAS, The State of California provides incentives to encourage
the development and deployment of natural gas vehicles and fueling
stations in the state; and
WHEREAS, In 1999, 2010, and 2013, the Legislature enacted laws
designed to encourage growth in purchases of natural gas vehicles by
authorizing decals that allow natural gas vehicles to use carpool
lanes.
WHEREAS, New networks of natural gas vehicles and fueling stations
are being established around the country and within the State of
California; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, the National Conference on Weights and Measures
established the gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) as the official unit
of sale for compressed natural gas (CNG); and
WHEREAS, The GGE is a consumer friendly unit of measurement
because it represents the amount of CNG that has the same energy
content as a gallon of gasoline; and
WHEREAS, The GGE standard puts CNG in a unit that is familiar to
consumers and allows consumers to evaluate the cost between CNG and
traditional motor vehicle fuels; and
WHEREAS, Since 2011, an increasing number of long-haul trucking
companies have begun converting their fuel source to liquefied
natural gas (LNG); and
WHEREAS, By the end of 2014, there is expected to be a nationwide
network of LNG refueling stations; and
WHEREAS, Because LNG only displaces diesel as a motor vehicle
fuel, it is sold on a diesel gallon equivalent (DGE); and
WHEREAS, The Clean Vehicle Education Foundation, in conjunction
with the natural gas vehicle industry, submitted a request to the
National Conference on Weights and Measures in 2013 to adopt a
standard definition of a DGE; and
WHEREAS, On March 19, 2014, the National Conference on Weights and
Measures announced that its Natural Gas Steering Committee
recommended that natural gas be sold in terms of gasoline and diesel
gallon equivalents as opposed to units of mass, either pounds or
kilograms; and
WHEREAS, The National Institute of Standards and Technology
publishes the standards adopted by the National Conference on Weights
and Measures; and
WHEREAS, California is one of 44 states that automatically adopt
the standards published by the National Institute of Standards and
Technology; and
WHEREAS, The National Conference on Weights and Measures is
scheduled to vote on the recommended natural gas vehicle fuel
standards at its annual meeting in July of 2014; now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature strongly supports the
natural gas vehicle fuel standards recommended by the Natural Gas
Steering Committee of the National Conference on Weights and
Measures; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature urges any official of the State of
California involved with the National Conference on Weights and
Measures and acting in his or her official capacity to strongly
support the natural gas vehicle fuel standards recommended by the
Natural Gas Steering Committee of the National Conference and Weights
and Measures; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature urges the United States Department
of Commerce, the National Conference on Weights and Measures, and the
National Institute of Standards and Technology to work with the
natural gas industry to develop natural gas vehicle fuel standards
that are user and consumer friendly and that include recognition of
the gasoline and diesel gallon equivalent units for dispensing
natural gas; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the Governor of California, to the Secretary of Food
and Agriculture, to the United States Secretary of Commerce, to the
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to
the Executive Director of the National Conference on Weights and
Measures, and to the author for appropriate distribution.
