GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2005

S                                                                                                                                                    D

SENATE DRS65241-LYx-202  (3/16)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short Title:     Mobile Source Emissions Reduction Program.

(Public)

Sponsors:

Senators Jenkins, and Albertson.

Referred to:

 

 

 

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to improve air quality by creating a mobile source emissions reduction program fund THROUGH an emissions‑based surcharge on vehicle registration fees.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 36 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:

"Part 4. Mobile Source Emissions Reduction Program.

"§ 143‑345.19.  Mobile Source Emissions Reduction Program established.

(a)       Establishment. – There is established the Mobile Source Emissions Reduction Program in the Department of Administration. The Program is to be administered by the State Energy Office.

(b)       Purposes. – The Program shall provide for grants for the following purposes:

(1)       Payments to the first owner, other than for resale, of alternative fuel vehicles and hybrid vehicles.

(2)       Payments to owners of alternative fuel vehicles to offset higher State taxes on alternative fuel as compared to other motor fuels.

(3)       Alternative fuel infrastructure projects.

(4)       Truck stop electrification projects.

(5)       Payments for the installation of particulate traps and oxidation catalysts on diesel vehicles.

(c)       Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this Part:

(1)       Alternative fuel. – Defined in G.S. 105‑449.130.

(2)       Alternative fuel vehicle. – An original equipment manufactured motor vehicle that operates on an alternative fuel.

(3)       Hybrid vehicle. – A motor vehicle with a hybrid propulsion system that operates on both electricity and a petroleum‑based motor fuel.

"§ 143‑345.19A.  Implementation.

The State Energy Office, in consultation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, shall adopt rules regarding the implementation of the Mobile Source Emissions Reduction Program. These rules shall be adopted after consultation with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Correction, the Department of Public Instruction, the Department of Revenue, and any other interested parties. The rules adopted by the State Energy Office shall comply with environmental and energy regulations promulgated by the United States Department of Energy and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

"§ 143‑345.19B.  Funding.

(a)       Funding Source. – The Mobile Source Emissions Reduction Program shall be funded by a surcharge on registration fees of motor vehicles registered in the counties in which vehicle emissions testing is required under G.S. 143‑215.107A. The surcharge is determined as follows:

(1)       For light-duty vehicles, the surcharge is determined by multiplying one dollar ($1.00) by a factor that is determined by dividing the vehicle's vehicle miles traveled by the vehicle's Green Vehicle Guide rating, as published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, in accordance with the following table:

             Combined Green Vehicle Guide Score                      Dividing Factor

                                           19‑20                                                          10,000

                                           17‑18                                                            9,000

                                           15‑16                                                            8,000

                                           13‑14                                                            7,000

                                           11‑12                                                            6,000

                                            9‑10                                                             5,000

                                             7‑8                                                              4,000

                                             5‑6                                                              3,000

                                             3‑4                                                              2,000

                                       Less than 3                                                       1,000

(2)       For medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, the surcharge is determined by multiplying the mileage rate provided in the following table by the vehicle's vehicle miles traveled:

                Gross Vehicle Weight                           Mileage Rate                 Vehicle Class

                    12,000 lbs. or less                                        $0.026                               MD

          Over 12,000 lbs. to 16,000 lbs.                             $0.034                               MF

          Over 16,000 lbs to 20,000 lbs.                             $0.046                               MG

          Over 20,000 lbs. to 24,000 lbs.                             $0.063                               MH

          Over 24,000 lbs. to 28,000 lbs.                             $0.063                                MJ

          Over 28,000 lbs. to 32,000 lbs.                             $0.083                               MK

          Over 32,000 lbs. to 36,000 lbs.                             $0.099                               ML

          Over 36,000 lbs. to 40,000 lbs.                             $0.128                               MN

          Over 40,000 lbs. to 45,000 lbs.                             $0.139                               MP

          Over 45,000 lbs. to 55,000 lbs.                             $0.156                               MR

          Over 55,000 lbs. to 59,500 lbs.                             $0.178                               MS

          Over 59,500 lbs. to 64,000 lbs.                             $0.195                               MT

          Over 64,000 lbs. to 73,280 lbs.                             $0.225                               MV

          Over 73,280 lbs. to 77,000 lbs                             $0.258                               MX

          Over 77,000 lbs.                                                       $0.275                              MZ

(b)       Transfer. – The Division of Motor Vehicles shall collect the surcharge imposed by this section at the time it collects the registration fee. The Division of Motor Vehicles shall transfer funds collected under this section on a quarterly basis to a special revenue fund in the Department of Administration. Funds in this special revenue fund shall be used by the State Energy Office to implement the Program created in this Part.

(c)       Administration Allowance. – The State Energy Office and the Division of Motor Vehicles may use up to five percent (5%) of the funds collected under this Part for the administration of this Part.

"§ 143‑345.19C.  Reports.

The Division of Motor Vehicles shall provide to the State Energy Office quarterly reports of all registered motor vehicles identified by fuel type. The State Energy Office shall provide an annual report on the expenditure of funds under this Part and the number of alternative fuel vehicles and hybrid vehicles registered in this State to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 143‑345.19B, as enacted by this act, becomes effective July 1, 2005, and applies to registrations due on or after that date. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.  This act is repealed effective July 1, 2015.