WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), announced her co-sponsorship of four bills introduced by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV): the Electric Transportation Commission and National Strategy Act (S. 2040), Clean Fuel Infrastructure Act (S. 2038), the Green Spaces, Green Vehicles Act (S. 2041), and the Greener Transportation for Communities Act (S. 2039). These bills would help promote and encourage the use of clean transportation in Nevada and across the country.
“Through continued investments in clean energy technology, we can develop a more efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective transportation system for Nevada,” said Senator Rosen. “These pieces of legislation will help to encourage technological development for electric vehicles, as well as clean energy infrastructure and job creation. I will continue to support forward-thinking legislation that creates eco-friendly solutions to reduce our carbon emissions, and that helps to grow Nevada’s clean energy economy.”
BACKGROUND: The Electric Transportation Commission and National Strategy Act would establish a joint working group at the Departments of Transportation and Energy to strategize and report on the barriers and opportunities to expand electric vehicles As part of the Electric Transportation Commission and National Strategy Act, the working group would be required to compile a resource guide for consumers and businesses.
The Clean Fuel Infrastructure Act would extend important tax credits and clarify existing statutes to encourage the installation of charging equipment and clean fueling infrastructure. Until the end of 2017, charging equipment, in addition to fueling equipment for natural gas, propane, diesel blends and biofuel blends, was eligible for a tax credit up to 30%. This legislation extends the credit to 2021 and clarifies that if multiple stations are installed on one property, such as multiple EV charging stations in one parking lot, each counts as a property.
The Green Spaces, Green Vehicles Act would create an initiative run by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Energy, to build the necessary charging infrastructure on certain public lands owned by the federal government so that millions of visitors who travel to scenic areas are able to access charging and refueling infrastructure.
The Greener Transportation for Communities Act would allow electric charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure to qualify for exemptions within the federal tax code, which allows state and local governments to use tax-exempt bonds to finance certain private projects. In addition, the Greener Transportation for Communities Act would allow this infrastructure to qualify as tax exempt if it is installed as part of larger projects built with private activity bonds as part of major infrastructure projects like airports, affordable housing, docks, green buildings and other infrastructure.
Last month, Senator Rosen announced her original co-sponsorship of the Renewable Energy Extension Act, legislation that would extend clean energy tax incentives set to expire at the end of 2019.
In April, Rosen helped to introduce the Electric CARS Act of 2019, bicameral legislation that would fully extend the Electric Vehicle (EV) tax credit for 10 years and help develop critical alternative fuel charging infrastructure.
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