25621.
The Legislature finds and declares that air pollution in California remains a significant threat to public health and the environment, and therefore, the University of California and the California State University, in their continuing efforts to improve the state’s air quality and traffic management, should consider the unique opportunity to improve transportation by implementing innovative and efficient commute management and ridesharing. It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature, in enacting this chapter, to direct the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to develop and submit recommendations to the Legislature for the creation of a program enabling the University of California and the California State University to purchase new medium-duty shuttle buses which meet federal safety standards and are primarily fueled by methanol, ethanol, electricity, compressed natural gas, propane, or other low-emission, clean-burning fuels.
25622.
(a)
The commission, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, shall develop recommendations for the establishment of a program of technology development and financial assistance to be implemented by the commission on campuses of the University of California and the California State University which choose to participate, the purpose of which shall be to expand the use of alternative fuels in medium-duty vehicles as a means of improving air quality, assuring the state’s energy security, and increasing the competitiveness of fuel markets.
(b)
The commission shall develop recommendations on both of the following:
(1)
A demonstration of the technological and economic feasibility and environmental impacts of utilizing alternative fuels in medium-duty vehicles.
(2)
Technical and financial assistance for public and private transit operators for the acquisition, operation, and maintenance of new, alternative-fueled, medium-duty transit buses.
(c)
As used in this section, “medium-duty vehicle” means a vehicle between 10,000 and 26,000 pounds, capable of carrying at least 15 passengers.
(d)
The program recommendations developed pursuant to this chapter shall provide for the maximum feasible financial and technical participation of government agencies and private industry.
(e)
In developing the program recommendations required pursuant to this chapter, the commission shall consider the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of integrating a campus alternative-fueled, medium-duty transit bus program with the commission’s Safe Schoolbus Fuel Efficiency Demonstration Program established in Part 10.7 (commencing with Section 17910) of the Education Code.
(f)
The commission shall submit its recommendations to the Legislature by March 1, 1992.