PRINTER'S NO. 729
No. 106 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY COHEN, GEORGE, LEACH, DePASQUALE, HERSHEY, CLYMER,
SCAVELLO, YOUNGBLOOD, THOMAS, SIPTROTH, PALLONE, KING,
JOSEPHS, FREEMAN, BENNINGTON, BELFANTI AND ROAE,
MARCH 9, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
MARCH 9, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging auto manufacturers to develop and produce plug-in hybrid
2 vehicles for consumer use within this Commonwealth.
3 WHEREAS, The price of gasoline in the United States surged to
4 an all-time high both on a nominal and an inflation-adjusted
5 basis in September 2005; and
6 WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of Energy,
7 the United States is approximately 58% dependent on petroleum
8 imports; and
9 WHEREAS, Today's hybrid vehicles are more efficient than
10 nonhybrid vehicles: they do not idle, use smaller engines and
11 recapture braking energy into a battery for use later; and
12 WHEREAS, Most hybrid vehicles presently available are 100%
13 gasoline-fueled; and
14 WHEREAS, Additional technological steps could be taken to tap
15 the full potential of hybrid vehicles, saving much more gasoline
16 and providing many other benefits; and
1 WHEREAS, PHEVs simply add electricity, a second cleaner,
2 cheaper and domestic energy source for passenger vehicles; and
3 WHEREAS, PHEVs allow an owner to have the equivalent of a
4 second small fuel tank that is always used first and can be
5 filled at home with electricity from an ordinary 120 volt
6 socket, at a cost equivalent to less than $1 per gallon; and
7 WHEREAS, PHEVs have demonstrated that electricity can be
8 successfully substituted for gasoline for the first 10 to 30
9 miles each day that a commuter may drive; and
10 WHEREAS, Although PHEVs usually charge at night, the
11 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania currently has an ample surplus of
12 electric generation capacity during daylight hours as well and
13 exports electricity to neighboring states; and
14 WHEREAS, When a PHEV's battery has been discharged, it still
15 has the same extended range available from a gasoline engine
16 while remaining a relatively clean and efficient hybrid vehicle;
17 and
18 WHEREAS, As of this date, no automaker has announced its
19 intention to mass-produce PHEVs for consumer use within the
20 United States; and
21 WHEREAS, Research by energy experts concludes that widespread
22 adoption of PHEVs could result in a significant reduction in our
23 dependence on foreign petroleum supplies; therefore be it
24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
25 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge auto manufacturers to develop
26 and produce PHEVs for consumer use within this Commonwealth; and
27 be it further
28 RESOLVED, That auto manufacturers consider manufacturing
29 PHEVs or their components within this Commonwealth; and be it
30 further
20070H0106R0729 - 2 -
1 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
2 each passenger automaker registered with the National Highway
3 Traffic Safety Administration that builds more than 1,000
4 vehicles a year.
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