SB294 Alabama 2013 Session

This bill would provide for The Alabama Alternative Fuel Policy Act of 2013. This bill would encourage the use of motor vehicles powered by compressed natural gas, electricity, fuel cells, hybrid technology, liquefied natural gas, or propane by a series of incentives for the acquisition of such vehicles and for the installation of refueling equipment for certain fuels. This bill would also encourage the in-state production of biodiesel and cellulosic biofuels

This bill would make legislative findings

This bill would create an incentive for the in-state production of biodiesel and cellulosic biofuels, in an amount to be paid quarterly in a program administered by the Center for Alternative Fuels within the Department of Agriculture and Industries. The payments made under this provision would expire after five years

This bill would limit the liability of providers of refueling equipment used by certain alternative fuel vehicles

This bill would exempt certain alternative fuel vehicles from the payment of tolls on toll roads, bridges, and tunnels owned by the Alabama Toll Road, Bridge, and Tunnel Authority

This bill would allow the Department of Transportation to designate certain roads as high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, subject to federal limitations, and would allow certain alternative fuel and other vehicles to use such lanes. This would impose penalties for the unauthorized use of such lanes

This bill would provide that no person would be required to install electric vehicle charging stations. This bill would provide that providers of electric vehicle charging stations would not, merely for that reason, be found to be engaging in the retail sale of electricity. This bill would provide that the Public Service Commission would have no jurisdiction over the rates, charges, and fees for services provided or the terms and conditions of service provided at electric vehicle charging stations

This bill would allow for an income tax credit of no more than $1,500 for certain alternative fuel vehicles, limited to no more than 5,000 vehicles per fuel type. This bill would allow an income tax credit for placing in service refueling equipment for certain alternative fuel vehicles, limited to the lower of 30 percent of the cost of such equipment, or dollar limits based on the type of fuel. As to both credits, unused credits could be carried forward for five years

Both credits would expire five years after the effective date of the provisions

To effectuate the duties prescribed herein, this bill would make an appropriation from the State General Fund to the Center for Alternative Fuels for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for each of the next five fiscal years

This bill would allow the various departments, agencies, and centers with administrative duties to promulgate regulations to implement this bill, would provide for the severance of invalid or unconstitutional provisions, and would provide an effective date

Relating to motor vehicles powered by compressed natural gas, electricity, fuel cells, hybrid technology, liquefied natural gas, or propane; to provide for the Alabama Alternative Fuel Policy Act of 2013; to encourage the use of such vehicles; to provide certain income tax credits and other incentives for the acquisition of such vehicles and for the installation of refueling equipment for certain fuel types; to encourage the in-state production of biodiesel and cellulosic biofuels; to make legislative findings; to create an incentive for the in-state production of biodiesel and cellulosic biofuels, in an amount to be paid quarterly in a program administered by the Center for Alternative Fuels within the Department of Agriculture and Industries; to provide that such payments would expire after five years; to limit the liability of providers of refueling equipment used by certain alternative fuel vehicles; to amend Section 23-2-150, Code of Alabama 1975, to exempt certain alternative fuel vehicles from the payment of tolls on toll roads, bridges, and tunnels owned by the Alabama Toll Road, Bridge, and Tunnel Authority; to allow the Department of Transportation to designate certain roads as high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, subject to federal limitations; to allow certain alternative fuel and other vehicles to use such lanes; to impose penalties for the unauthorized use of such lanes; to provide that no person would be required to install electric vehicle charging stations; to provide that providers of electric vehicle charging stations would not, merely for that reason, be found to be engaging in the retail sale of electricity; to provide that the Public Service Commission would have no jurisdiction over the rates, charges, and fees for services provided or the terms and conditions of service provided at electric vehicle charging stations; to allow for an income tax credit of no more than $1,500 for certain alternative fuel vehicles, limited to no more than 5,000 vehicles per fuel type; to allow an income tax credit for placing in service refueling equipment for certain alternative fuel vehicles, limited to the lower of 30 percent of the cost of such equipment, or dollar limits based on the type of fuel; to provide that, as to both income tax credits, unused credits could be carried forward for five years; to provide that both credits would expire five years after the effective date of the provisions; to make an appropriation from the State General Fund to the Center for Alternative Fuels for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for each of the next five fiscal years; to allow the various departments, agencies, and centers with administrative duties to promulgate regulations to implement this bill; to provide for the severance of invalid or unconstitutional provisions; and to provide an effective date.