PRINTER'S NO. 648

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

45

Session of

2023

INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, KINSEY, HILL-EVANS, MADDEN, SANCHEZ,

DELLOSO AND BURGOS, MARCH 24, 2023

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,

Governor and the General Assembly.

WHEREAS, In 2020, Steve Sisolak, Governor of Nevada, directed

the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to develop and

adopt a process that would provide for the establishment of low-

emission and zero-emission vehicle requirements for automakers;

and

WHEREAS, The initiative, known as Clean Cars Nevada, was

developed as a means of providing residents of Nevada with a

greater number of choices when considering the purchase of low-

emission and zero-emission vehicles; and

WHEREAS, Under this initiative, automakers can implement

cost-effective technologies for gasoline-powered vehicles such

as improvements to engines and transmissions and the use of

light-weight materials in vehicle production; and

WHEREAS, Clean Cars Nevada, the zero-emission vehicle

program, ensures that automakers annually deliver more vehicles

for sale in Nevada that achieve zero emissions by being

partially or fully electric thus providing consumers with

greater vehicle purchasing options; and

WHEREAS, In addition to Nevada, 11 other states have adopted

a zero-emission vehicle program, which has increased the

collectively linked to many adverse health effects such as

aggravated asthma, damage to the immune system, decreased lung

function, increased risk of cancer, inflammation of airways, as

well as developmental, neurological and reproductive health

issues; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the increased health benefits of low-

emission and zero-emission vehicles, a recent study found that,

if purchased, the average consumer could expect to save $6,000

to $10,000 over the lifetime of the vehicles; and

WHEREAS, For those who finance the purchase of a low-emission

emission vehicles would attract investments in charging

infrastructure thus creating additional jobs relative to the

installation and operation of charging stations and equipment;

and

WHEREAS, Under Clean Cars Nevada, it was determined that

cleaner, more efficient vehicles would appeal to both urban and

rural drivers as both would experience significant savings on

fuel; and

WHEREAS, Since lower-income families tend to spend a larger

portion of their incomes on gasoline as compared to families

with higher incomes, the reduced costs of fuel would likely have

fuel savings and reduced costs as new vehicle buyers, while

avoiding many of the up-front costs associated with improvements

in technology that are typically passed on to purchasers of new

vehicles; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct 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; and be it further

nongovernmental organizations and academic institutions to

assist in determining the feasibility of establishing a

Statewide low-emission and zero-emission vehicle program;

widespread use of low-emission and zero-emission vehicles in

this Commonwealth;

necessary infrastructure to support the widespread use of

low-emission and zero-emission vehicles in this Commonwealth;

and

air quality, auto manufacturing, the economy, the

environment, health and safety, transportation and both rural

and urban affairs;

zero-emission vehicles may have in regard to air quality,

auto manufacturing, the economy, the environment, health and

safety, transportation and both rural and urban affairs; and

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a

report of its findings and recommendations and submit the report

to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than 18 months

after the adoption of this resolution.