ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

INCREASING FUNDING FOR ALTERNATIVE FUELS

WHEREAS, improving air quality is a major goal for the nation's mayors, especially for mayors of cities designated as "non-attainment" areas under the Clean Air Amendments of 1990; and

WHEREAS, many mayors have invested significant resources, including local government resources, in projects and programs aimed at improving air quality; and

WHEREAS, despite improvements in air quality, in most urban areas, emissions from mobile sources presently account for a significant percentage of the emissions that contribute to degradation of air quality; and

WHEREAS, mayors recognize that the continued vibrant growth of metropolitan areas has and is expected to continue to result in ever-increasing number of vehicles and increased traffic congestion on the nation's roads, thereby contributing to the trend of increased emissions from mobile sources; and

WHEREAS, the mayors have determined that the widespread promotion and use of alternative fuels in public and private fleets holds promise as an effective solution for helping to reduce emissions from mobile sources, thereby improving air quality and assisting with efforts to reach and maintain attainment of air quality standards; and

WHEREAS, in addition to air quality benefits, the widespread use of alternative fuels also offers economic benefits and national security benefits; and

WHEREAS, even though many cities actively participate in the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Program, the Clean Cities Program does not provide adequate funding to support active and widespread promotion and implementation of programs to increase the use of alternative fuels; and

WHEREAS, mayors are committed to actively implementing alternative fuel projects and making alternative fuels a priority in their cities if adequate resources are available; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the United States Conference of Mayors hereby urges the Department of Energy and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to collaborate on a full scale evaluation of AFVs including but not limited to availability, feasibility, reliability and relative cost; said study should include heavy duty vehicles, buses, passenger and utility vehicles typically used in municipal fleets; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors recognizes the importance of alternative fuels as an effective tool for reducing emissions from mobile sources and improving air quality within their cities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conference supports a broad agenda to make alternative fuels a priority for the nation, and calls upon mayors to advance this agenda within their cities and within the Conference; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conference calls upon the Administration to increase proposed funding for alternative fuels and increase the availability of incentives to promote alternative fuels; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conference calls upon the appropriate Departments and Agencies of the federal government, including the Departments of Energy and Transportation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to work with the Conference to advance this agenda; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conference calls upon Congress to appropriate funds to support alternative fuels programs.