Originally published December 29 2005
Federal agencies agree to buy more alternative fuel-based vehicles after admitting they violated federal energy law
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The Center for Biological Diversity has won its suit against four federal agencies that violated the federal Energy Policy Act by not purchasing new vehicles that could run on alternative fuels.
Four federal agencies have settled a lawsuit with environmental groups and agreed to buy thousands of vehicles that run on natural gas, electricity, ethanol, propane and other alternative fuels.
Under the settlement filed Wednesday in federal court in San Francisco, the Commerce Department, Labor Department, Transportation Department and Veterans Administration admitted that they violated the federal Energy Policy Act and agreed to buy enough alternative fuel vehicles to meet the law's requirements.
Signed by President Bush's father in 1992, the Energy Policy Act requires that 75 percent of the new cars and light trucks purchased by federal agencies run on alternative fuels.
The law was intended to reduce dependence on foreign, reduce air pollution, spur technological innovation and stimulate the market for such vehicles.
"These purchases will help these technologies mature into the mainstream so that eventually the consumer has a broader choice of alternative fuel technologies," said Peter Galvin, conservation director for the Center for Biological Diversity.
In April, the Tucson, Ariz.-based Center for Biological Diversity and the San Francisco-based Bluewater Network sued 14 federal agencies for failing to buy enough alternative vehicles to comply with the 1992 energy law.
Under the settlement, each of the four agencies agreed to specific plans to boost alternative fuel vehicle purchases over the next three years, and to provide the plaintiffs with the purchasing reports they submit to Congress.
It's unclear exactly what percentage of that fleet is required to be alternative fuel vehicles because some agencies are exempt from the purchasing requirements of the 1992 energy law.
The environmental groups still are waiting for the federal court's decision on another part of the lawsuit that seeks to force the Energy Department to require large private fleets, such as those run by FedEx or UPS, to buy alternative fuel vehicles.
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