[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 432 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 432
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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 24, 2021
Mr. Markey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
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 ``Fostering and Realizing
Electrification by Encouraging Zero Emission Refrigeration Trucks Act
of 2021'' or the ``FREEZER Trucks Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE ELECTRIFICATION OF CERTAIN REFRIGERATED
VEHICLES.
(a) 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
a 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 the principal purpose of the
organization or institution, 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; and
(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; and
(B) an insulated cargo trailer used in transporting
perishable goods or other goods requiring climate-
controlled conditions when mounted on a semitrailer.
(6) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program'' means the
pilot program established under subsection (b).
(7) 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 the heavy-duty vehicle is stationary on a
property where the heavy-duty vehicle is parked or loaded,
including a food distribution center or other location where
heavy-duty vehicles congregate.
(8) 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.
(b) Establishment of Pilot Program.--The Administrator shall
establish 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 (c).
(c) Projects.--An eligible entity receiving an award of funds under
the pilot program may use those funds only for 1 or more of the
following projects:
(1) Transport refrigeration unit replacement.--A project to
retrofit a heavy-duty vehicle by--
(A) replacing or retrofitting an existing diesel-
powered transport refrigeration unit in the heavy-duty
vehicle with an electric transport refrigeration unit;
and
(B) retiring the replaced diesel-powered transport
refrigeration 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.
(d) Maximum Amounts.--The amount of an award of funds under the
pilot program to an eligible entity shall not exceed--
(1) with respect to the costs of a project described in
subsection (c)(1), 75 percent of those costs; and
(2) with respect to the costs of a project described in
subsection (c)(2), 55 percent of those costs.
(e) Applications.--To be eligible to receive an award of funds
under the pilot program, 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 to be carried out
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 those heavy-duty
vehicles;
(ii) the uses of those heavy-duty vehicles;
(iii) the locations where those heavy-duty
vehicles dock for the purpose of loading or
unloading; and
(iv) the routes driven by those heavy-duty
vehicles, including the times at which those
heavy-duty vehicles are driven;
(3) an estimate of the cost of the project proposed to be
carried out by the eligible entity;
(4) a description of the age and expected lifetime control
of the equipment used or funded by the eligible entity; and
(5) a description of the provisions for the monitoring and
verification of the project proposed to be carried out by the
eligible entity, including to verify the scrappage of any
replaced diesel-powered transport refrigeration units.
(f) Priority.--In awarding funds under the pilot program, 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.
(g) Data Release.--Not later than 120 days after the date on which
an award of funds is made under the pilot program, the Administrator
shall publish on the website of the Environmental Protection Agency, in
a downloadable electronic database, information with respect to that
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) if 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 the pilot program.
(h) Reports to Congress.--
(1) Annual report to congress.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of the establishment of the pilot program, and
annually thereafter until the 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 the pilot program;
(B) all awards of funds made under the pilot
program, including a summary of the data described in
subsection (g);
(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 greenhouse gas emissions
that is associated with the awards of funds made under
the pilot program;
(D) the number of awards of funds made under the
pilot program for projects that serve communities
described in subsection (f)(3); and
(E) any other data the Administrator determines to
be necessary to describe the implementation, outcomes,
or effectiveness of the pilot program.
(2) Final report.--
(A) In general.--The Administrator shall submit to
Congress and make available to the public a report
containing the information described in subparagraph
(B) on the date that is the earlier of--
(i) the date that is 1 year after the date
on which the amounts made available to carry
out this section are fully expended; and
(ii) the date that is 5 years after the
date on which the pilot program is established.
(B) Information described.--The information
referred to in subparagraph (A) is--
(i) all of the information collected for
the annual reports under paragraph (1);
(ii) 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;
(iii) any challenges or benefits that
recipients of awards of funds under the pilot
program reported with respect to the
integration or use of electric transport
refrigeration units and associated
technologies;
(iv) an assessment of the national market
potential for electric transport refrigeration
units;
(v) an assessment of the challenges and
opportunities for widespread deployment of
electric transport refrigeration units,
including in urban areas; and
(vi) recommendations for how future
Federal, State, and local programs can best
support the adoption and widespread deployment
of electric transport refrigeration units.
(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 the amounts made available under
paragraph (1) for administrative expenses to carry out this
section.
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