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Current Government Policies

State of California

  • The State Alternative Fuels Plan (AB 1007) requires California to develop and adopt a plan to increase the use of alternative fuels without adversely affecting air quality or water quality, or causing negative health effects.
  • The California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) requires the California Air Resources Board to develop regulations and market mechanisms that will ultimately reduce California's greenhouse gasA gas in Earth's atmosphere that traps heat and can contribute to global warming. Carbon dioxide and methane are two GHGs. emissions by 25 percent by 2020.
  • The Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP - AB 118), established by the California Alternative and Renewable Fuel, Vehicle Technology, Clean Air, and Carbon Reduction Act of 2007 (Assembly Bill (AB) 118, Statutes of 2007, Chapter 750), is a voluntary incentive program administered by the Air Resources Board (ARB or Board) to fund clean vehicle and equipment projects, research on biofuels production and the air quality impacts of alternative fuels, and workforce training.   
  • The Low Carbon Standard for Transportation Fuels (EO S-01-07) will reduce the carbon intensityA measure of the amount of carbon contained in various energy forms. (units of carbon emitted per unit of energy) of California's passenger vehicle fuels by at least 10 percent by 2020.
  • Senate Bill 76 establishes the guidelines for the retail sales of hydrogen fuel and provides the funding to fulfill the California Hydrogen Highway Blueprint Plan. Another part of SB 76 calls for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Division of Measurement Standards (DMS) to develop or adopt hydrogen quality standards for the retail sale of hydrogen as a fuel. 
  • Senate Bill 1505 (Lowenthal) sets complete life-cycle emissions standards for hydrogen used for transportation in the state in order to ensure emissions are reduced. The bill also requires a certain percentage of this hydrogen be produced from renewable sources.
  • The Zero Emission Vehicle Program requires automakers to demonstrate and commercialize zero emission vehicles.

Federal

  • The President’s Hydrogen Fuel Initiative accelerates the research and development of technologies needed to support hydrogen-powered fuel cells for use in transportation and electricity generation. The goal of the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, which includes $1.2 billion over the first five years, is to develop hydrogen production, delivery, storage, and fuel cell technologies that enable the automotive and energy companies to commercialize fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen fuel infrastructure.

Local

  • South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Clean Fuels Program includes emission reduction demonstrations for mobile and stationary sources of air pollution. The AQMD initiated the groundwork for a distributed hydrogen refueling network that will allow the fuel cell vehicles unhindered access throughout the Basin and help promote the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles.