New Jersey-2018-A3363-Introduced

An Act establishing an alternative fueling station pilot program and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. The Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority, shall promulgate guidelines for the creation of an alternative fueling station pilot program, for use by government-owned or privately-owned vehicles.

The Department of Transportation shall work with electric and gas public utilities and private fuel station vendors to offer alternative fuels at public, private, and government-owned or operated fueling stations, and may enter into an agreement with one or more private entities or public utilities. The pilot program shall include at least one alternative fueling station located in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, and at least one alternative fueling station shall be a charging station.

b. The Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority, shall, within 18 months after the date of enactment of this act, conduct a study and prepare and submit to the Legislature a written report, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), which shall analyze the pilot program and shall make recommendations concerning: (1) the continuation of any State partnership with a private entity or public utility; (2) increasing access to, or the number of, alternative fueling stations and charging stations in the State; and (3) identification of highway rest stops in the State where alternative fueling stations, including charging stations, may be installed.

The report shall also include a proposal and plan for the State to install at least one charging station in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. The Department of Transportation may consult with any private entities or public utilities that are interested in installing a charging station or have already installed such a system.

c. Upon completion of the report required pursuant to subsection b. of this section, the Department of Transportation, or other appropriate executive department or independent authority, shall apply for any available federal grants or other funds for the purposes of establishing alternative fueling stations. Upon receipt of any federal grants or other funds, or any State funds made available for the purpose, the Department of Transportation shall install a charging station in each of the three regions of the State, pursuant to the plan established in the report.

d. As used in this section:

"Alternative fuel" means a fuel that is substantially not petroleum and would yield substantial energy security benefits and substantial environmental benefits, as designated by the federal Energy Policy Act, Pub.L.102-486 (42 U.S.C. s.13401 et al.) or by the United States Secretary of Energy. "Alternative fuel" includes: ethanol, methanol, and other alcohols; blends of 85% or more of alcohol with gasoline, such as E85; natural gas and liquid fuels domestically produced from natural gas, including compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas; liquefied petroleum gas; coal-derived liquid fuels; hydrogen; electricity; biodiesel; fuels, other than alcohol, derived from biological materials; and other emerging fuels, such as P-Series.

"Alternative fueling station" means a public or private vehicle fueling station that provides access to an alternative fuel, including a charging station.

"Charging station" means a public or private vehicle fueling station that provides for the charging and re-charging of electric vehicles.

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill would establish a public-private alternative fueling station pilot program.

The Department of Transportation (DOT), in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA), would be required to promulgate guidelines for the creation of an alternative fueling station pilot program, for use by government-owned or privately-owned vehicles.

Under the bill, the DOT would work with public utilities and private fuel station vendors to offer alternative fuels at public, private, and government-owned or operated fueling stations, and may enter into an agreement with one or more private entities or public utilities. The pilot program would include at least one alternative fueling station located in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, and at least one alternative fueling station would be a charging station.

The DOT, in consultation with the DEP, the NJTA, and the SJTA, would, within 18 months after the date of enactment of this bill into law, conduct a study and prepare and submit to the Legislature a written report analyzing the pilot program and making recommendations concerning: (1) the continuation of any State partnership with a private entity or public utility; (2) increasing access to, or the number of, alternative fueling and charging stations in the State; and (3) identification of highway rest stops in the State where alternative fueling stations, including charging stations, can be installed.

The report would also include a proposal and plan for the State to install at least one charging station in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. The DOT would be able to consult with any private entities or public utilities that are interested in installing a charging station or have already installed such a system.

Upon completion of the report, the DOT, or other appropriate executive department or independent authority, would apply for any available federal grants or other funds for the purposes of establishing alternative fueling stations. Upon receipt of any federal grants or other funds, or any State funds made available for the purpose, the DOT would install a charging station in each of the three regions of the State, pursuant to the plan established in the report.