(a) Establishment of program
(1)
The Secretary shall, within one year after October 24, 1992, issue regulations establishing guidelines for comprehensive State alternative fuels and alternative fueled vehicle incentives and program plans designed to accelerate the introduction and use of such fuels and vehicles. Such guideline [1] shall address the development, modification, and implementation of such State plans and shall describe those program elements, as described in paragraph (3), to be addressed in such plans.
(2) The Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall invite the Governor of each State to submit to the Secretary a State plan within one year after the effective date of the regulations issued under paragraph (1). Such plan shall include—
(A)
provisions designed to result in scheduled progress toward, and achievement of, the goal of introducing substantial numbers of alternative fueled vehicles in such State by the year 2000; and
(3) Each proposed State plan, in order to be eligible for Federal assistance under this section, shall describe the manner in which coordination shall be achieved with Federal and local governmental entities in implementing such plan, and shall include an examination of—
(B)
the introduction of alternative fueled vehicles into State-owned or operated motor vehicle fleets;
(G) allowing public utilities to include in rates the incremental cost of—
but only to the extent that the inclusion of such costs in rates would not create competitive disadvantages for other market participants, and taking into consideration the effect inclusion of such costs would have on rates, service, and reliability to other utility customers;
(I)
whether accomplishing any of the goals in this subsection would require amendment to State law or regulation, including traffic safety prohibitions;
(K)
effects of such plan on programs authorized by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and amendments made by that Act.
(b) Federal assistance to States
(1) Upon request of the Governor of any State with a plan approved under this section, the Secretary may provide to such State—
(A)
information and technical assistance, including model State laws and proposed regulations relating to alternative fueled vehicles;
(B)
grants of Federal financial assistance for the purpose of assisting such State in the implementation of such plan or any part thereof; and
(2) In determining whether to approve a State plan submitted under subsection (a), and in determining the amount of Federal financial assistance, if any, to be provided to any State under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into account—
(A)
the energy-related and environmental-related impacts, on a life cycle basis, of the introduction and use of alternative fueled vehicles included in the plan compared to conventional motor vehicles;
(c) General provisions