Sec. 18A-16A. Social cost of carbon assessment.

   (a)   Definitions. In this Section, the following words have the meanings indicated:

      Department means the Department of General Services.

      Director means the Director of the Department or the Director’s designee.

      Energy Project means an energy efficiency or renewable energy improvement to a building or facility that is expected to reduce the onsite consumption of electricity, natural gas, or other fuels.

      Return on Investment means a performance measure used to evaluate the financial return of an energy project, including reasonable forecasts of energy costs and other factors.

      Social cost of carbon means an estimate of the economic damages or damages avoided associated with the increase or reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide emissions.

   (b)   When evaluating a building to determine whether to improve the building’s energy efficiency, the Department must include the social cost of carbon as a factor in determining the return on investment of the proposed energy efficiency improvements.

   (c)   In performing its analysis, the Department must use the standard developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or a standard the Director finds equivalent.

   (d)   In performing its analysis, the Department should consult the Department of Environmental Protection and any other County department or agency with expertise in environmental sustainability. (2014 L.M.C., ch. 8, § 1.)

ARTICLE 3. CLIMATE PROTECTION—MOTOR VEHICLES—COUNTY FLEET.

Sec. 18A-17. Definitions.

   In this Article, the following words have the meanings indicated:

   ASTM means the American Society for Testing and Materials.

   B20 means a biodiesel blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel fuels.

   Biodiesel means any biomass-based diesel fuel certified by the Environmental Protection Agency.

   Biodiesel blend means a blend of biodiesel fuel, designated BXX, where XX represents the volume percentage of biodiesel fuel in the blend.

   Car share program means a program that allows County employees to conduct County business using motor vehicles which:

      (1)   are owned or leased by the County; and

      (2)   County residents and businesses can lease when they are not being used for County business.

   County fleet means all passenger vehicles and light trucks owned or leased by the County.

   County vehicle means any motor vehicle owned or leased by the County.

   Department means the Department of General Services.

   Diesel fuel means a distillate fuel for use in diesel engines.

   Director means the Director of the Department or the Director’s designee.

   Fuel economy means the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s combined (city and highway) fuel economy estimate for a vehicle.

   Light truck means a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of less than 8,500 pounds which is:

      (1)   designed primarily for transporting property;

      (2)   designed primarily for transporting persons and has a capacity of more than 12 persons; or

      (3)   available with special features that enable off-road operation or use.

   Miles per gallon means the distance traveled in a vehicle powered by one gallon of fuel.

   Office of Energy and Sustainability or Office means the Office of Energy and Sustainability in the Department of General Services created in Section 18A-14.

   Passenger vehicle means a motor vehicle, except a light truck or motorcycle, designed to carry no more than 12 persons.

   Public safety vehicle means a motor vehicle whose primary purpose is patrol, transport, emergency response, or another purpose that requires specialized equipment or capabilities, which is used by:

      (1)   the Department of Police;

      (2)   the Fire and Rescue Service;

      (3)   the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation; or

      (4)   any other County department or agency. (2008 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 2; 2014 L.M.C., ch. 15, § 1.)

Sec. 18A-18. Biodiesel fuel standards.

   (a)   Standard. A County vehicle with a diesel engine must use a biodiesel blend of B20 or higher unless the Director finds that there is a compelling reason to use:

      (1)   a different biodiesel or other biofuel blend; or

      (2)   another fuel that achieves greater greenhouse gas reductions.

   (b)   Applicability. This Section does not apply to any County vehicle for which mechanical failure due to use of biodiesel fuel would void the manufacturer’s warranty for that vehicle.

   (c)   The Director may waive the requirements of this subsection for up to 1 year if the Director finds that compliance is not feasible for a certain type of vehicle. (2008 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 2.)

Sec. 18A-19. Sport utility vehicles.

   (a)   The Office of Energy and Sustainability must conduct an annual inventory of the County’s sport utility vehicles and:

      (1)   identify the function that each sport utility vehicle performs;

      (2)   identify the most fuel-efficient type of vehicle that could reasonably and satisfactorily perform the function that each sport utility vehicle performs; and

      (3)   eliminate or replace any sport utility vehicle for which a more fuel-efficient vehicle could reasonably and satisfactorily perform the identified function.

   (b)   The Office must develop criteria to identify which positions in County government should be assigned a sport utility vehicle from the County fleet. The Director must follow this criteria when assigning vehicles from the County fleet. (2008 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 2; 2014 L.M.C., ch. 15, § 1.)

Sec. 18A-20. Fuel economy standards.

   (a)   The Office must develop a strategy to achieve a significant improvement in average County fleet fuel economy standards.

   (b)   This Section does not apply to public safety vehicles. (2008 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 2; 2014 L.M.C., ch. 15, § 1.)

Sec. 18A-21. Emergency Vehicles Inventory.

   By January 15, 2009, the Fire and Rescue Service, consulting with the Department of Transportation, must:

   (a)   inventory the use of its public safety vehicles; and

   (b)   develop a strategy to assure that it uses appropriate public safety vehicles when responding to an emergency, including ways the Fire and Rescue Service can increase the use of fuel efficient vehicles. (2008 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 2.)

Sec. 18A-22. Car share program.

   (a)   Costs and benefits. The Sustainability Working Group must evaluate the costs and benefits of creating a car share program for the purpose of reducing the:

      (1)   number of motor vehicles in the County fleet; and

      (2)   dependence of County residents and businesses on motor vehicle ownership.

   (b)   Factors to consider. The Sustainability Working Group must consider whether:

      (1)   a car share program will help:

         (A)   reduce traffic;

         (B)   increase transit use;

         (C)   promote walking and biking;

         (D)   reduce carbon emissions;

         (E)   improve air quality; and

         (F)   reduce demand for parking; and

      (2)   the County should partner with a private entity to develop a car share program.

   (c)   Report. The Sustainability Working Group must submit a report to the County Executive and County Council by January 15, 2009 that includes:

      (1)   findings regarding the costs and benefits of a car share program; and

      (2)   recommendations as to:

         (A)   whether the County should create, or provide incentives for the private sector to create, a car share program; and

         (B)   the type of car share program that best suits the County’s needs. (2008 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 2.)

Sec. 18A-23. Annual report.

   By February 1 each year, the Office of Energy and Sustainability must submit to the County Executive and County Council a report on the:

   (a)   use of biodiesel in County vehicles, including the quantity, blend, price per gallon, and average fuel consumption;

   (b)   results of the inventory of sport utility vehicles conducted under Section 18A-19; and

   (c)   average fuel economy for passenger vehicles and light trucks in the County fleet. (2008 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 2; 2014 L.M.C., ch. 15, § 1.)