SENATE RESOLUTION No. 101
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED JANUARY 10, 2011
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Camden)
Senators Turner and Whelan
Urges Congress and President to provide funding and other incentives to states to promote electric and hybrid vehicle usage.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee on February 17, 2011, with amendments.
A senate Resolution urging the United States Congress and the President to provide funding and other incentives to states to promote the usage of electric and hybrid electric vehicles.
Whereas, There is a vital need to support transportation energy sources other than foreign oil imports, which adversely affect economic growth as well as climate change; and
Whereas, Air quality will continue to deteriorate if practical approaches to transportation fuels and infrastructure in the State are not adopted; and
Whereas, Electric-powered vehicles (EVs) and combined EV/petroleum-powered vehicles, known as hybrids, and related recharging infrastructure can be used to attract new business and industries to the State, which will result in reduced energy costs for businesses, individuals, schools and government institutions; and
Whereas, The promotion of EVs and hybrids, and the infrastructure needed to recharge them, would serve to reduce the purchase of foreign petroleum that supports an estimated 75 billion on-road vehicle miles traveled annually in the State, and New Jersey citizens, businesses and institutions pay billions of dollars each year to foreign oil suppliers for the gasoline and diesel fuels needed for that travel; and
Whereas, Global warming is a serious threat to New Jersey, putting the State’s beaches, shore communities, and tourism industry at risk from sea level rise and threatening to cause dramatic and costly interruptions in vital transportation and shipping infrastructure; and
Whereas, New Jersey residents continue to breathe unhealthy levels of air toxins, particulate matter such as soot, and smog and ozone pollution, which can compromise the health of all New Jerseyans, especially children with asthma and seniors with breathing problems or other health issues, resulting in more than 600,000 missed school days per year and at least 2,300 premature deaths per year; and
Whereas, The Legislature and the Executive branch of this State have set strong mandates to reduce global warming and air pollution and to increase renewable energy production through the passage of the “Global Warming Response Act,” the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and the adoption of a strong renewable energy mandate on the State’s utilities; and
Whereas, EV and hybrid-powered vehicles, also known as zero emission or advanced technology partial zero emission vehicles, are identified as vehicles meeting certain standards certified by the California Air Resources Board; and
Whereas, Automobile manufacturers such as Nissan and General Motors have begun offering EV and hybrid-powered vehicles for sale to the public, and other automobile companies are working to develop and market similar vehicles; and
Whereas, There are federal tax reduction incentives for purchasing alternative fuel vehicles, including EV and hybrid-powered vehicles, but many states do not have such incentives because they cannot afford to offer them; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House strongly urges the United States Congress and the President of the United States to provide financial support and other incentives from the federal government to the states to promote and incentivize the local adoption of zero-emissions and partial zero-emissions vehicles as a means of reducing the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels, particularly imported fossil fuels, which would also serve to mitigate the detrimental effects of global warming and air pollution caused by these emissions.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the 1[Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk] President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary1 thereof, shall be transmitted to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy, the Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce, the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of the United States Congress elected from the State of New Jersey.