HR 82 — A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing a low-emission and zero-emission vehicle program in this Commonwealth and to issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly.

PRINTER'S NO.   684

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



              HOUSE RESOLUTION
                 No. 82
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, GIRAL AND CERRATO,
        FEBRUARY 20, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE
        PROTECTION, FEBRUARY 20, 2025


                                  A RESOLUTION
 1   Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
 2      study on the feasibility of establishing a low-emission and
 3      zero-emission vehicle program in this Commonwealth and to
 4      issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the
 5      Governor and the General Assembly.
 6         WHEREAS, In 2020, Steve Sisolak, Governor of Nevada, directed
 7   the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to develop and
 8   adopt a process that would provide for the establishment of low-
 9   emission and zero-emission vehicle requirements for automakers;
10   and
11         WHEREAS, The initiative, known as Clean Cars Nevada, was
12   developed as a means of providing residents of Nevada with a
13   greater number of choices when considering the purchase of low-
14   emission and zero-emission vehicles; and
15         WHEREAS, Clean Cars Nevada has been touted as being critical
16   to advancing a healthy, resilient and climate-friendly future;
17   and
18         WHEREAS, Under Clean Cars Nevada, low-emission vehicle
19   standards require that automakers provide new vehicle models
 1   that emit fewer greenhouse gases and other air pollutants; and
 2      WHEREAS, Under this initiative, automakers can implement
 3   cost-effective technologies for gasoline-powered vehicles such
 4   as improvements to engines and transmissions and the use of
 5   light-weight materials in vehicle production; and
 6      WHEREAS, Clean Cars Nevada, the zero-emission vehicle
 7   program, ensures that automakers annually deliver more vehicles
 8   for sale in Nevada that achieve zero emissions by being
 9   partially or fully electric thus providing consumers with
10   greater vehicle purchasing options; and
11      WHEREAS, In addition to Nevada, 13 other states have adopted
12   a zero-emission vehicle program, which has increased the
13   availability of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle models at
14   dealerships; and
15      WHEREAS, Fossil fuel-powered vehicles emit many health-
16   threatening pollutants, such as benzene, carbon monoxide,
17   formaldehyde, organic compounds and nitrogen oxide; and
18      WHEREAS, These pollutants and particulate matter are
19   collectively linked to many adverse health effects such as
20   aggravated asthma, damage to the immune system, decreased lung
21   function, increased risk of cancer, inflammation of airways, as
22   well as developmental, neurological and reproductive health
23   issues; and
24      WHEREAS, In addition to the increased health benefits of low-
25   emission and zero-emission vehicles, a recent study found that,
26   if purchased, the average consumer could expect to save up to
27   $12,000 over the lifetime of the vehicles; and
28      WHEREAS, For those who finance the purchase of a low-emission
29   or zero-emission vehicle, monthly expenditures for a typical
30   six-year loan would be significantly lower; and

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 1         WHEREAS, The increased deployment of low-emission and zero-
 2   emission vehicles would attract investments in charging
 3   infrastructure thus creating additional jobs relative to the
 4   installation and operation of charging stations and equipment;
 5   and
 6         WHEREAS, Under Clean Cars Nevada, it was determined that
 7   cleaner, more efficient vehicles would appeal to both urban and
 8   rural drivers as both would experience significant savings on
 9   fuel; and
10         WHEREAS, Since lower-income families tend to spend a larger
11   portion of their incomes on gasoline as compared to families
12   with higher incomes, the reduced costs of fuel would likely have
13   a greater benefit on those with lower incomes; and
14         WHEREAS, Families with lower incomes disproportionately buy
15   used vehicles, so the adoption of a low-emission and zero-
16   emission vehicle program would likely increase the demand for
17   these vehicles within the used vehicle market; and
18         WHEREAS, Used vehicle buyers would also benefit from the same
19   fuel savings and reduced costs as new vehicle buyers, while
20   avoiding many of the up-front costs associated with improvements
21   in technology that are typically passed on to purchasers of new
22   vehicles; therefore be it
23         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
24   State Government Commission to conduct a study on the
25   feasibility of establishing a low-emission and zero-emission
26   vehicle program in this Commonwealth and to issue a report of
27   its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General
28   Assembly; and be it further
29         RESOLVED, That the study do the following:
30             (1)   identify and examine efforts, procedures, measures,

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 1      statutes and management responsibilities of State agencies,
 2      nongovernmental organizations and academic institutions to
 3      assist in determining the feasibility of establishing a
 4      Statewide low-emission and zero-emission vehicle program;
 5            (2)   conduct an economic impact analysis regarding the
 6      widespread use of low-emission and zero-emission vehicles in
 7      this Commonwealth;
 8            (3)   identify best practices in regard to developing the
 9      necessary infrastructure to support the widespread use of
10      low-emission and zero-emission vehicles in this Commonwealth;
11      and
12            (4)   identify financial mechanisms and options for
13      funding the development of a Statewide low-emission and zero-
14      emission vehicle program and related infrastructure in this
15      Commonwealth;
16   and be it further
17      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission consult
18   with organizations that:
19            (1)   have organizational missions and expertise regarding
20      air quality, auto manufacturing, the economy, the
21      environment, health and safety, transportation and both rural
22      and urban affairs;
23            (2)   collect data on the benefits that low-emission and
24      zero-emission vehicles may have in regard to air quality,
25      auto manufacturing, the economy, the environment, health and
26      safety, transportation and both rural and urban affairs; and
27            (3)   have knowledge of relevant issues;
28   and be it further
29      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission be
30   authorized to consult with states and other organizations that

20250HR0082PN0684                    - 4 -
1   have knowledge of relevant issues; and be it further
2      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
3   report of its findings and recommendations and submit the report
4   to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than 18 months
5   after the adoption of this resolution.




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