RHB/5/22
Sponsored by Jude Rifai, James Cross, Jake Atwood of McCallie School
This legislation was filed in the Transportation category
Presented as part of the YIG Volunteer 2024 conference
| 1 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE TENNESSEE YMCA YOUTH LEGISLATURE |
| 2 | |
| 3 | Section 1: Terms used in this act, unless the context requires otherwise, shall be defined as |
| 4 | follows: |
| 5 | Hydrogen Fuel Station: A fuel station that dispenses hydrogen fuel for vehicles using either |
| 6 | hydrogen fuel cells or hydrogen internal combustion engines. |
| 7 | Diesel Vehicles: Vehicles that are powered by internal combustion engines that use diesel and emit |
| 8 | a large amount of greenhouse gasses. |
| 9 | Greenhouse Gasses: Includes carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, |
| 10 | and water vapor, and have been proven to raise the surface temperature of the planet. |
| 11 | Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV): Vehicles that, when operated, emit no greenhouse gasses into the |
| 12 | atmosphere. |
| 13 | Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCEV): A type of ZEV that uses the chemical energy from hydrogen to |
| 14 | power the vehicle. |
| 15 | |
| 16 | Section 2: The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will begin a viability study across |
| 17 | the state to assess possible locations for the construction of new hydrogen fuel stations. The study |
| 18 | will consider factors like landscape suitability, ease of access for transporting or producing |
| 19 | hydrogen, current infrastructure, and proximity to centers and highways. TDOT will collaborate |
| 20 | with relevant parties, such as government agencies, private partners, and environmental |
| 21 | organizations in conducting the viability study. These analyses will be further inspected by the |
| 22 | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) for final approval on the |
| 23 | environmental factors. |
| 24 | |
| 25 | Section 3: Upon completion of the viability study, TDOT will outline possible locations for the |
| 26 | creation of hydrogen fuel stations with explanations based on their analyses. TDOT will then |
| 27 | allocate funds from the state budget to support the construction and operation of hydrogen fuel |
| 28 | stations following the prioritized plan. Additionally, TDOT will give incentives like tax credits to |
| 29 | companies willing to assist in the development of stations within the state. |
| 30 | |
| 31 | Section 4: The construction of these fuel stations will further incentivize the transition from diesel |
| 32 | vehicles to ZEVs in Tennessee, specifically as it pertains to FCEVs. This will aid the ongoing effort |
| 33 | in the United States to combat the negative effects of greenhouse gas emissions. |
| 34 | |
| 35 | Section 5: TDOT and TDEC will provide annual reports to the Tennessee State Legislature detailing |
| 36 | their progress, including their progress in outlining locations for construction, the outlined |
| 37 | locations, the number of stations installed, the funds allocated, and any additional important |
| 38 | |
| 39 | Section 6: TDOT will maintain and operate the hydrogen fuel stations using the allocated funds. |
| 40 | They will oversee the storage, staffing, and repairs for these fuel stations. TDOT will finally provide |
| 41 | detailed, annual financial reports to the state legislature for transparency. |
| 42 | |
| 43 | Section 7: TDOT will be granted an initial $3,000,000 annually from the state general fund to fund |
| 44 | the feasibility study, planning efforts, and initial establishment of hydrogen fuel stations. After |
| 45 | construction is finalized, annual funding will be decreased to $750,000 to staff, maintain, and |
| 46 | operate the fuel stations. |
| 47 | |
| 48 | Section 8: All laws or parts of laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed. |
| 49 | |
| 50 | Section 9: This act will go into effect on July 1st, 2025, to give TDOT and TDEC adequate time to |
| 51 | prepare, with the public welfare requiring it. |
| 52 |