EPACT

EPAct also nationalized state efforts that had gotten underway to regulate water consumption of toilets, plumbing fittings, and showerheads. The faucet and showerhead standards reduce hot water use, thereby saving energy for consumers. The toilet effi-... 

A number of new technology promotion options are being explored in the lighting area. Work is undeiway on market transformation programs based on bulk procurement for improved efficacy incandescent light bulbs and for compact fluorescent lamps and fixtures. For incandescent lamps, adaptations of the infrared reflective lamp coating that is already in use on reflector bulbs are encouraged by the EPAct requirement. 

EPA. See U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPACT, alternative fuels and 3... 

Alternative Fuel Includes methanol, denatured ethanol and other alcohols, separately or in mixtures of 85% by volume or more with gasoline or other fuels, CNG, LNG, LPG, hydrogen, coal derived liquid fuels, fuels other than alcohols derived from biological materials, electricity, neat biodiesel, or any other fuel determined to be substantially not petroleum and yielding substantial energy security benefits and substantial environmental benefits. It is defined pursuant to the EPACT (Energy Policy Act of 1992), alternative fuels. 

Bi-Fuel Vehicle A vehicle with two separate fuel systems designed to run either on an alternative fuel, or on gasoline or diesel, using only one fuel at a time. Bi-fuel vehicles are referred to as dual-fuel vehicles in the CAA and EPACT. 

Fuel Availability Most of the E-85 fueling stations are located in the Midwest, but, in all, approximately 150 stations are available in 23 states. There are only a small number of hydrogen stations across the country. Most are available for private use only. Public LNG stations are limited (only 35 nationally), and LNG is available through several suppliers of cryogenic liquids. Propane is the most accessible alternative fuel in the U.S. There are more than 3,300 stations nationwide. Methanol remains a qualified alternative fuel as defined by EPAct, but it is not commonly used. 

On the contrary, reducing oil imports and greenhouse emissions were implicit goals of the EPAct 2005 and are today explicit goals of the US energy policy. 

From one perspective, hydrogen is just another in a long line of alternative transportation fuels. The U.S. Congress included hydrogen in the list of alternative fuels that qualified for special support and promotion through fleet programs as far back as the Energy Policy Act (EPACT) of 1992. 

Hydrogen fuel vehicles also must surmount a very difficult marketing challenge because there are currently no commercial hydrogen vehicles on the roads. By way of comparison, when EPACT was enacted in 1992 to promote alternative fuel use, there were already over 20,000 CNG vehicles and over 200,000 LPG vehicles operating in the United States (Energy Information Administration, 1996). 

FIGURE 12-2. Percent sales of AFVs needed to meet EPACT goals. 

The U.S. Department of Energy, through the EPACT program, has designated B-20, a 20 percent mixture of biodiesel in conventional diesel fuel, as an alternative fuel, and many fleets are successfully operating diesel powered Dodge Ram diesel trucks on such fuels. 

EPACT also provides incentives to introduce AFVs and requires that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimate the technical and economic... 

United States will achieve or even approach EPACT s 2010 displacement goals (Leiby and Rubin, 2001). These transitional barriers are likely to have similar implications for prospects of hydrogen ICE vehicles and for FCVs. 

The twin principles of fuel neutrality and diversity have been enshrined in key federal policies of the past two decades, including the Alternative Motor Fuels Act (AMFA) of 1988 and the Energy Policy Act (EPACT) of 1992. While there are some notable exceptions to this basic respect of market decision making, the effects of non-neutral, strategically oriented policies also remain largely negligible, at least in the context of recent history. 

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