What's happening
The bill requires alternative fuels to be available at gas stations along the New York State Thruway, with specific intervals.
Why it matters
Broader fuel choices for drivers. By requiring gas stations to offer at least three types of alternative fuels (like electricity, hydrogen, natural gas, or ethanol), the bill directly supports drivers who use non-gasoline vehicles, making long-distance travel more feasible for owners of electric and other alternative-fuel cars.
Incentivizes clean transportation. The mandated availability of alternative fuels can help accelerate the adoption of cleaner vehicles, which is a key step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from transportation—a major source of carbon emissions in New York.
State-supported infrastructure planning. The bill specifically tasks New York’s energy research authority with identifying which alternative fuels are most feasible and assisting in their implementation, ensuring that the rollout is based on current technology, demand, and environmental goals rather than arbitrary choices.
Equitable access along major routes. By specifying that these fuels must be available at intervals of no more than 120 miles, the law aims to prevent “fuel deserts” on the Thruway, ensuring that alternative-fuel vehicle owners can reliably travel the entire length of this crucial corridor without being stranded.
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Who cares
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Require Alternative Fuels on Thruway
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to energy
- Referred to energy
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Add Alternative Fuels to Thruway
In Senate Committee · Energy And Telecommunications · Sponsor Kevin S. Parker
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3118
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ, WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Energy
AN ACT to amend the energy law and the public authorities law, in relation to the availability of alternative fuels along the New York state thruway
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "electric super highway act of 2019".
§ 2. Section 1-103 of the energy law is amended by adding a new subdivision 14 to read as follows:
14. "Alternative fuel" shall mean ethanol, methanol, natural gas, propane, electricity (including electricity from solar energy), hydrogen, and any other fuel identified which is substantially not petroleum-based, which is consistent with the goals of protecting the safety and health of the public and minimizing emissions of air pollutants, and which is consistent with any applicable federal alternative fuel requirements.
§ 3. The energy law is amended by adding a new section 5-129 to read as follows:
§ 5-129. Alternative fuels. State energy research and development authority shall provide the New York state thruway authority with a list of the most feasible alternative fuels, which shall number no fewer than three, and assist the authority in implementing the requirements of section three hundred fifty-four of the public authorities law.
§ 4. Subdivision 10 of section 354 of the public authorities law, as amended by section 2 of part TT of chapter 54 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
10. To construct, reconstruct or improve on or along the thruway in the manner herein provided, suitable facilities for gas stations, restaurants, and other facilities for the public, or to lease the right
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07082-01-9
A. 3118 2
to construct, reconstruct or improve and operate such facilities; such facilities shall be publicly offered for leasing for operation, or the right to construct, reconstruct or improve and operate such facilities shall be publicly offered under rules and regulations to be established by the authority, provided, however, that lessees operating such facilities at the time this act becomes effective, may reconstruct or improve them or may construct additional like facilities, in the manner and upon such terms and conditions as the board shall determine; and provided further, however, that each such facility which contains or consists of a gas station shall, beginning November first, two thousand nineteen, include a facility for selling to the public an alternative fuel, as defined in section 1-103 of the energy law and each alternative fuel recommended to the authority by the New York state energy research and development authority pursuant to section 5-129 of the energy law shall be made available at intervals of no more than one hundred twenty miles on each side of the thruway;
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.