California Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday signed four measures into law aimed at advancing clean fuel transportation in the nation’s most populous state for cars and people.

Two of the measures are aimed at expanding the $100 million Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Fund administered by the California Energy Commission (CEC). Of late, the CEC has directed a number of grants toward the use of natural gas in transportation (see Daily GPI, May 11).

As the author of three of the four clean transportation bills signed by the governor, Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield (D-Los Angeles) sponsored AB 2583 to require the CEC to work with appropriate state agencies, such as the General Services and Transportation departments to install alternative fueling capability in public parking and park-and-ride facilities with 50 or more parking spaces.

Monies from the existing alternative/renewables transportation fund would be available to support the effort.

A second measure (SB 1128), authored by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Los Angeles), calls for changes in the state Alternative Energy and Advance Transportation Financing Authority, which has the power to issue up to $1 billion in revenue bonds to support alternative transportation.

The changes signed into law by Brown will focus on expanding manufacturing of alternative transportation vehicles in the state by authorizing funding through July 1, 2016, and at the same time studying whether the state longer term should offer sales and use tax exemptions to advanced manufacturing as a means of creating clean transportation jobs.

The other measures signed by Brown, also authored by Blumenfield, deal with allowing alternative fuel vehicles in carpool lanes (AB 2405) and requiring full disclosure of the total costs of home-based alternative fuel fueling and recharging equipment (AB 2502).

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