Lieu Legislation to Reduce Skin Cancer Rates Passes Out of Assembly Today

Sacramento, CA –Late Tuesday the State Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing approved AB 236 by Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) to challenge our state’s vehicle fleet to reduce its petroleum dependence and move forward on using alternative fuel vehicles.
“Last year the State of California set very ambitious goals for the reduction of Greenhouse Gases,” Lieu said.  “The least we can do is lead by example and clean up our own act.”

AB 236 requires California to develop a roadmap to reduce fuel consumption in the state fleet, with the goal of a 20% reduction by 2020.  It also endeavors to ensure that alternative fuel capable vehicles are actually fueled with alternative fuels, instead of normal gasoline, and improves accountability by requiring more documentation on vehicle purchasing decisions.

“Reducing our consumption of gasoline has environmental and health benefits,” said Assemblymember Lieu.  “That’s why this bill has the support of groups like CalStart, the Bluewater Network, the Clean Air Coalition and the American Lung Association.”

Beyond the environmental and health impacts of reducing air pollution, AB 236 will also reduce California’s dependence on foreign oil.  This could have benefits for California’s economy and our nation’s security.

Under federal law, 75% of non-law enforcement state fleet purchases must be capable of running on alternative fuels. However, there is no requirement for these vehicles to actually run on alternative fuels.  Nearly all the vehicles purchased or leased simply run on gasoline, which defeats the purpose of purchasing the vehicles.