[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1335 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1335
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
carry out a pilot program to award grants for the electrification of
certain refrigerated vehicles, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 25, 2021
Ms. Clarke of New York (for herself, Mr. Huffman, and Ms. Schakowsky)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
carry out a pilot program to award grants for the electrification of
certain refrigerated vehicles, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``FREEZER Trucks Act of 2021'' or the
``Fostering and Realizing Electrification by Encouraging Zero Emission
Refrigeration Trucks Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE ELECTRIFICATION OF CERTAIN REFRIGERATED
VEHICLES.
(a) Establishment of Pilot Program.--The Administrator shall
establish and carry out a pilot program to award funds, in the form of
grants, rebates, and low-cost revolving loans, as determined
appropriate by the Administrator, on a competitive basis, to eligible
entities to carry out projects described in subsection (b).
(b) Projects.--An eligible entity receiving an award of funds under
subsection (a) may use such funds only for one or more of the following
projects:
(1) Transport refrigeration unit replacement.--A project to
retrofit a heavy-duty vehicle by replacing or retrofitting the
existing diesel-powered transport refrigeration unit in such
vehicle with an electric transport refrigeration unit and
retiring the replaced unit for scrappage.
(2) Shore power infrastructure.--A project to purchase and
install shore power infrastructure or other equipment that
enables transport refrigeration units to connect to electric
power and operate without using diesel fuel.
(c) Maximum Amounts.--The amount of an award of funds under
subsection (a) shall not exceed--
(1) for the costs of a project described in subsection
(b)(1), 75 percent of such costs; and
(2) for the costs of a project described in subsection
(b)(2), 55 percent of such costs.
(d) Applications.--To be eligible to receive an award of funds
under subsection (a), an eligible entity shall submit to the
Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Administrator may require,
including--
(1) a description of the air quality in the area served by
the eligible entity, including a description of how the air
quality is affected by diesel emissions from heavy-duty
vehicles;
(2) a description of the project proposed by the eligible
entity, including--
(A) any technology to be used or funded by the
eligible entity; and
(B) a description of the heavy-duty vehicle or
vehicles of the eligible entity, that will be
retrofitted, if any, including--
(i) the number of such vehicles;
(ii) the uses of such vehicles;
(iii) the locations where such vehicles
dock for the purpose of loading or unloading;
and
(iv) the routes driven by such vehicles,
including the times at which such vehicles are
driven;
(3) an estimate of the cost of the proposed project;
(4) a description of the age and expected lifetime control
of the equipment used or funded by the eligible entity; and
(5) provisions for the monitoring and verification of the
project including to verify scrappage of any replaced units.
(e) Priority.--In awarding funds under subsection (a), the
Administrator shall give priority to proposed projects that, as
determined by the Administrator--
(1) maximize public health benefits;
(2) are the most cost-effective; and
(3) will serve the communities that are most polluted by
diesel motor emissions, including communities that the
Administrator identifies as being in either nonattainment or
maintenance of the national ambient air quality standards for a
criteria pollutant under section 109 of the Clean Air Act (42
U.S.C. 7409), particularly for--
(A) ozone; and
(B) particulate matter.
(f) Data Release.--Not later than 120 days after the date on which
an award of funds is made under this section, the Administrator shall
publish on the website of the Environmental Protection Agency, on a
downloadable electronic database, information with respect to such
award of funds, including--
(1) the name and location of the recipient;
(2) the total amount of funds awarded;
(3) the intended use or uses of the awarded funds;
(4) the date on which the award of funds was approved;
(5) where applicable, an estimate of any air pollution or
greenhouse gas emissions avoided as a result of the project
funded by the award; and
(6) any other data the Administrator determines to be
necessary for an evaluation of the use and effect of awarded
funds provided under this section.
(g) Reports to Congress.--
(1) Annual report to congress.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of the establishment of the pilot program under this
section, and annually thereafter until amounts made available
to carry out this section are fully expended, the Administrator
shall submit to Congress and make available to the public a
report that describes, with respect to the applicable year--
(A) the number of applications for awards of funds
received under such program;
(B) all awards of funds made under such program,
including a summary of the data described in subsection
(f);
(C) the estimated reduction of annual emissions of
air pollutants regulated under section 109 of the Clean
Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7409), and the estimated reduction
of greenhouse gas emissions, associated with the awards
of funds made under such program;
(D) the number of awards of funds made under such
program for projects in communities described in
subsection (e)(3); and
(E) any other data the Administrator determines to
be necessary to describe the implementation, outcomes,
or effectiveness of such program.
(2) Final report.--Not later than 1 year after amounts made
available to carry out this section are fully expended, or 5
years after the pilot program is established, whichever comes
first, the Administrator shall submit to Congress and make
available to the public a report that describes--
(A) all of the information collected for the annual
reports under paragraph (1);
(B) any benefits to the environment or human health
that could result from the widespread application of
electric transport refrigeration units for short-haul
transportation and delivery of perishable goods or
other goods requiring climate-controlled conditions,
including in low-income communities and communities of
color;
(C) any challenges or benefits that recipients of
awards of funds under such program reported with
respect to the integration or use of electric transport
refrigeration units and associated technologies;
(D) an assessment of the national market potential
for electric transport refrigeration units;
(E) an assessment of challenges and opportunities
for widespread deployment of electric transport
refrigeration units, including in urban areas; and
(F) recommendations for how future Federal, State,
and local programs can best support the adoption and
widespread deployment of electric transport
refrigeration units.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Diesel-powered transport refrigeration unit.--The term
``diesel-powered transport refrigeration unit'' means a
transport refrigeration unit that is powered by an independent
diesel internal combustion engine.
(3) Electric transport refrigeration unit.--The term
``electric transport refrigeration unit'' means a transport
refrigeration unit in which the refrigeration or climate-
control system is driven by an electric motor when connected to
shore power infrastructure or other equipment that enables
transport refrigeration units to connect to electric power,
including all-electric transport refrigeration units, hybrid
electric transport refrigeration units, and standby electric
transport refrigeration units.
(4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a regional, State, local, or Tribal agency, or
port authority, with jurisdiction over transportation
or air quality;
(B) a nonprofit organization or institution that--
(i) represents or provides pollution
reduction or educational services to
individuals or organizations that own or
operate heavy-duty vehicles or fleets of heavy-
duty vehicles; or
(ii) has, as its principal purpose, the
promotion of air quality;
(C) an individual or entity that is the owner of
record of a heavy-duty vehicle or a fleet of heavy-duty
vehicles that operates for the transportation and
delivery of perishable goods or other goods requiring
climate-controlled conditions;
(D) an individual or entity that is the owner of
record of a facility that operates as a warehouse or
storage facility for perishable goods or other goods
requiring climate-controlled conditions; or
(E) a hospital or public health institution that
utilizes refrigeration for storage of perishable goods
or other goods requiring climate-controlled conditions.
(5) Heavy-duty vehicle.--The term ``heavy-duty vehicle''
means--
(A) a commercial truck or van--
(i) used for the primary purpose of
transporting perishable goods or other goods
requiring climate-controlled conditions; and
(ii) with a gross vehicle weight rating
greater than 6,000 pounds; or
(B) an insulated cargo trailer used in transporting
perishable goods or other goods requiring climate-
controlled conditions when mounted on a semitrailer.
(6) Shore power infrastructure.--The term ``shore power
infrastructure'' means electrical infrastructure that provides
power to the electric transport refrigeration unit of a heavy-
duty vehicle when such vehicle is stationary on a property
where such vehicle is parked or loaded, including a food
distribution center or other location where heavy-duty vehicles
congregate.
(7) Transport refrigeration unit.--The term ``transport
refrigeration unit'' means a climate-control system installed
on a heavy-duty vehicle for the purpose of maintaining the
quality of perishable goods or other goods requiring climate-
controlled conditions.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $30,000,000, to remain available until
expended.
(2) Administrative expenses.--The Administrator may use not
more than 1 percent of amounts made available pursuant to
paragraph (1) for administrative expenses to carry out this
section.
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