CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2013–2014 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Joint Resolution
No. 29
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.
Digest Key
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.