State of New Jersey
Executive Order #94

Governor Christine Todd Whitman

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey is committed to leadership in advancing technologies for cleaner and more fuel-efficient automobiles that utilize alternative fuels; and

WHEREAS, the use of advanced technology vehicles ("ATVs") and alternate fuel vehicles ("AFVs") can play an important role in achieving the goals of clean air, conservation of finite energy resources, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey is committed to achieving improvements in air quality mandated by the federal Clean Air Act; and

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey is committed to complying with the alternative fuel vehicle requirements of the federal Energy Policy Act of 1992 ("EPAct"); and

WHEREAS, AFVs are defined as motor vehicles that operate primarily on non-petroleum fuels such as natural gas, propane, electricity, hydrogen and biodiesel; and

WHEREAS, ATVs are defined as motor vehicles that operate primarily on alternative fuels and that meet or exceed California Air Resources Board ("CARB") ultra-low emission vehicles ("ULEV") standards for the applicable model year, and hybrid-electric or fuel cell vehicles powered by conventional or alternative fuels that meet or exceed CARB ULEV standards for the applicable model year; and

WHEREAS, the development and manufacture of ATVs and AFVs and the development of support industries present potential employment opportunities for New Jersey residents; and

WHEREAS, life-cycle cost analysis can be a useful tool in determining the actual costs to the State of acquiring and operating new motor vehicles;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1. There is hereby created the New Jersey Advanced Technology Vehicle Task Force ("Task Force").

2. The Task Force shall be composed of 7 members as follows:

(a) the President of the Board of Public Utilities ("BPU"), or his designee;

(b) the Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of the Commerce and Economic Growth Commission, or his designee;

(c) the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, or his designee;

(d) the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation, or his designee;

(e) the State Treasurer, or his designee;

(f) the Attorney General, or his designee; and

(g) the Executive Director of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority ("EDA"), or her designee.

3. The Governor shall designate a chair and vice-chair of the Task Force from among the foregoing members.

4. The Task Force shall:

(a) assist the Department of the Treasury ("Treasury") in developing and coordinating ATV and AFV acquisition plans and vehicle placement for State agencies;

(b) create and implement a compliance monitoring program to ensure that State fleet vehicles with bi-fuel capabilities operate utilizing an alternative fuel to the maximum extent practicable;

(c) work with individual State agencies to remove regulatory and other non-economic barriers to increase the use of ATVs and AFVs in public and private fleets throughout New Jersey;

(d) assist Treasury in establishing life-cycle cost analysis guidelines for the purchase, lease and use of vehicles by State agencies;

(e) administer an annual Clean Fleets Partner Award to public and private fleets demonstrating outstanding leadership in ATV acquisition and use;

(f) assist the EDA in reviewing requests for financial assistance from companies that wish to purchase ATVs;

(g) assist Treasury in preparing a plan for developing the refueling/recharging infrastructure necessary to support the anticipated level of AFV and ATV use by the State motor vehicle fleet; and

(h) assist Treasury in creating an incentive program for other public entities to defray the incremental costs of converting vehicles to alternative fuel use or of acquiring ATVs.

5. The Task Force shall issue a report to the Governor no later than one year from the date that the Task Force convenes, and annually thereafter, on the State's progress in increasing the acquisition and use of AFVs and ATVs by the State motor vehicle fleet.

6. The State of New Jersey and all State agencies shall exercise leadership in the acquisition and use of ATVs and AFVs. The State shall exceed the EPAct AFV acquisition requirements for State government fleets by 5 percentage points for each model year. In Model Years 1999 and 2000, those additional vehicles acquired to fulfill this enhanced commitment shall meet or exceed CARB low emission vehicle ("LEV") standards in effect for those model years. In Model Year 2001, and thereafter, those additional vehicles acquired to fulfill this enhanced commitment shall meet or exceed CARB ULEV standards in effect for those model years.

7. Treasury shall, in consultation with the Task Force, work with individual State agencies to develop and implement a five-year plan for the integration of ATVs into the State motor vehicle fleet.

8. The EDA shall provide financial assistance in the form of low-interest loans and loan guarantees to qualifying New Jersey companies for projects for the voluntary purchase of ATVs, consistent with N.J.S.A. 34:1B-1 et seq.

9. The New Jersey Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles, is directed to develop an ATV and AFV school bus inspection program, so that school districts interested in utilizing advanced technology or alternative fuel school buses may do so.

10. Treasury shall take into consideration life-cycle costs when reviewing individual State agency requests for motor vehicle acquisitions.

11. To the extent allowed under law, Treasury shall negotiate reciprocal agreements with other public entities, including educational institutions and municipal and county governments, allowing for the shared use of the existing and planned refueling/recharging infrastructure. To the extent allowed under law, Treasury shall negotiate agreements with the private sector to refuel/recharge the State's ATVs and AFVs.

12. The Task Force is authorized to call upon any department, office, division or agency of State government to provide such data, information, personnel and assistance as deemed necessary to discharge its responsibilities under this Order. Each department, office, division and agency of this State is hereby required, to the extent not inconsistent with law, to cooperate with the Task Force and to furnish it with such information, personnel and assistance as is necessary to accomplish the purpose of this Order.

13. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal
this 16th day of April in the Year
of Our Lord, One Thousand Nine
Hundred and Ninety Nine, and of
the Independence of the United States,
the Two Hundred and Twenty-Third.

/s/ Christine Todd Whitman
Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ John J. Farmer, Jr.
Chief Counsel to the Governor