Sponsored by:
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblyman ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Timberlake
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress and President to provide funding and other incentives to states to promote hydrogen fuel cell vehicle usage.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the United States Congress and the President to provide funding and other incentives to states to promote hydrogen fuel cell vehicle usage.
Whereas, There is a vital need to support transportation energy sources other than imported and domestic fossil fuels, which adversely affect economic growth, cause air pollution, and contribute to climate change; and
Whereas, The promotion of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and the infrastructure needed to refuel them would reduce the billions of dollars that New Jersey citizens, businesses, and institutions pay each year to foreign oil suppliers for the gasoline and diesel fuels needed to support an estimated 77 billion on-road vehicle miles traveled annually in the State; and
Whereas, Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and related refueling infrastructure can be used to attract new business and industries to the State; and
Whereas, New Jersey residents continue to breathe unhealthy levels of air toxins, such as oxides of nitrogen and ozone, which can compromise their health; and
Whereas, Air pollution is particularly harmful for children with asthma and seniors with breathing problems or other health issues, resulting in missed school days, asthma attacks, and even premature deaths; and
Whereas, Air quality will continue to deteriorate if practical approaches to transportation energy sources and transportation infrastructure in the State are not adopted; and
Whereas, Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are zero emission—they run on compressed hydrogen fuel cells that produce electricity to propel the vehicle—so operating them does not produce air pollution; and
Whereas, Global warming is a serious threat to New Jersey, putting the State’s beaches, waterfront communities, and tourism industry at risk from sea-level rise, and threatening to cause dramatic and costly interruptions in vital transportation and shipping infrastructure; and
Whereas, The State of New Jersey set strong standards to reduce global warming and air pollution and to increase renewable energy production through the passage of the “Global Warming Response Act” and the adoption of a strong renewable energy mandate on the State’s utilities; and
Whereas, Hydrogen can be produced using only electricity and water, so hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can be fueled and operated without generating carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the United States Congress and the President of the United States to provide financial support and other incentives to the states to promote and incentivize the local adoption of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as a means of reducing the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels, particularly imported fossil fuels, which would also serve to mitigate the detrimental effects of global warming and air pollution caused by vehicle emissions.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President and Vice President of the United States; the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate; The Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives; and every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the U.S. Congress and the President to provide the states with financial support and other incentives to promote and incentivize the purchase of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, as a means of reducing the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels, particularly imported fossil fuels, which would also serve to mitigate the detrimental effects of global warming and air pollution caused by vehicle emissions.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are electrically powered and produce only water vapor as an emission. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles typically have a longer range than battery-powered electric vehicles and can be refueled in approximately the same time and manner as a gasoline-powered vehicle. Furthermore, because hydrogen can be produced using only electricity and water, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can be fueled and operated without generating carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.