The testimony will bring out many of the pros and cons of the two proposals. Senator Muskie of Maine, the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Air and Water Pollution, has done a remarkable job insofar as Federal responsibility is concerned in the air pollution field, and has joined with us in these hearings. They are to be literally joint in their objectives. He has a short statement he would like to give at this time. Cochairman MUSKIE. Mr. Chairman, I would like to read a short statement. The hearings which we begin today are significant in two ways. First, the problems of urban America are so complex and so interrelated that there is no single approach to any problem. Second, they recognize the real need for the Congress and its respective committees to sit down together in an attempt to ascertain both present and future needs of the human environment. The senior Senator from the State of Washington has long sponsored and supported legislation to deal with the problems which will confront our society today, tomorrow, and 50 years from now. This sponsorship of legislation to develop prototype electric vehicles which will be more suitable to our urban transportation problems is evidence of his leadership and his interest. I have long felt that an electric automobile or a fuel-cell automobile, or any other kind of automobile, which differs radically from those we use today could not alone be justified as a response to the problem of air pollution. The fact that the Nation's cities are snarled by excessive numbers of cars, that the people of our Nation's cities are inhibited in their freedom of movement by cars which are too large or highways that are too small, are reason enough to turn our thoughts, research capabilities, and our industrial mechanism to development of different ways to move people. Air pollution control should be a consideration of any such endeavor. I do not offer a panacea. I suggest, however, that we begin to consider a transportation system which will serve us well in the year 2017, not just in the year 1977 or 1987. Part of that transportation system must include, I am convinced, a clean car—that is, a car which does not pollute our urban environment. I have said before that we have spent billions of dollars to allow man the privilege of walking on the Moon, but we have spent little, absolutely or comparatively, to insure his right to move freely on the Earth. We have spent millions to develop a means whereby man can move across the ocean or from coast to coast in less time than it takes him to get from his home to his office. While these programs are essential to our competitive position in the world marketplace of ideas and economics, it is equally, if not more important, that we devote an even greater effort to assure the people of this Nation that they can move freely within their own environment. I was pleased during our recent field hearings in Detroit to hear of the endeavors put forth by the automobile manufacturers to examine alternatives to internal combustion, but as man thrives on the competitive influences in his life, I am sure that more can be done, that more must be done, and that Federal assistance may be helpful in assuring that it is done. The prototype cars we saw yesterday are a beginning. I hope that when these hearings are concluded that the beginning demonstrated by these prototypes will be enhanced by the knowledge that, in the near future, we can expect to see the necessary radical changes made in order to find a solution to this most pressing of urban problems. I would like to supplement that statement with these few comments. First of all from the point of view of the Subcommittee on Air and Water Pollution, we are concerned with this as part of the broad air pollution problem. In recent hearings in Detroit, we were concerned with the automobile and possible answers to the contribution that the automobile makes to air pollution. There are three approaches. The first concerns the possibilities of cleaning up the internal combustion engine. Under the Clean Air Act of 1965 the Secretary of HEW has imposed standards which the 1968 model cars must meet. These standards were comparable to the California standards which are now in effect. There is considerable dispute as to whether the California standards are being met. And so there is considerable doubt as to whether the national standards can be met on the 1968 cars. Finally, there is considerable doubt as to whether the standards now promulgated by the Secretary of HEW will be adequate for the future. So that whatever the automobile companies do to meet the 1968 standards may not be good enough for the future. The Subcommittee on Air and Water Pollution is interested in probing the prospects for technological advances which will give us the kind of clean internal combustion engine that the future may require. Secondly, in Detroit, we also studied the efforts being made by the automobile companies to develop the turbine engine. What we saw there convinced us that this has some prospects for buses and trucks within the relatively early future. This would add considerably to an alleviation of the air pollution problem. Thirdly, we are interested in the electrics and we are delighted to join with Senator Magnuson in these hearings. In my 8 years in the Senate I find that he can generate considerable motive power in getting legislation moved through the Senate. So we are happy to join his motive power with our objectives in the Air Pollution Subcommittee to move toward a common purpose. Chairman MAGNUSON. We are happy to be able to hold joint hearings. We appreciate the interest that your subcommittee has taken in electric vehicles. At this point in the record I will place copies of the two bills before us and the departmental views thereon. (S. 451 and S. 453 and its reports received to date are as follows:) [S. 451, 90th Cong., first sess.] A BILL To amend the Clean Air Act in order to authorize an investigation and study to determine means of propelling vehicles so as not to contribute to air pollution Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 106 of the Clean Air Act is amended by inserting at the end thereof a new subsection as follows: "(c) (1) The Secretary shall make an investigation and study for the purpose of determining practicable means of propelling vehicles commonly used for commercial and personal transportation that will not contribute to air pollution. In making such investigation and study the Secretary "(A) shall give particular consideration to the use of electric power; "(B) may design, construct, and test such means of propulsion as he determines to be necessary; "(C) shall consult with other Federal departments and agencies which use a substantial number of such vehicles (including the Department of Defense, the Post Office Department, and the General Services Administration), and such Departments and agencies shall cooperate with the Secretary and provide necessary information for the purposes of this subsection but nothing in this clause shall require the disclosure of any information detrimental to the national defense; and "(D) may contract with public or private agencies, institutions and organizations, and with individuals, without regard to sections 3648 and 3709 of the Revised Statutes (31 U.S.C. 529; 41 U.S.C. 5). "(2) The Secretary shall report the results of such investigation and study to the President and Congress in interim reports submitted on or before June 30, 1967 and prior to the beginning of each regular session of the Congress after the first session of the Ninetieth Congress, and in a final report. Such reports shall contain any recommendations for additional legislation. "(3) There are authorized to be appropriated such amounts not in excess of a total of $5,000,000, as may be necessary for the purposes of this subsection." [S. 453, 90th Cong., first sess.] A BILL To authorize a program of research, development, and demonstration projects for electrically powered vehicles Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Electric Vehicle Development Act of 1967". SEC. 2. (a) The Congress finds that there is a need to develop, in addition to vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, an alternative source of transportation for use in urban and suburban areas of the United States. (b) It is the purpose of this Act to encourage the development of electrically powered vehicles capable of performing public and private transportation tasks in a practical manner. SEC. 3. (a) In order to carry out the purpose of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation (hereinafter refererd to as the "Secretary"), is authorized, either directly or by means of grant or contract, to undertake research, development, and demonstration projects which he determines will contribute to the production of practical electrically powered vehicles, including (1) the designing, development, and testing of a fast recovery, long life, maximum power storage battery, an economical and practical fuel cell, and related equipment, and (2) the designing, testing, and construction (in demonstration quantities) of such vehicles. (b) In the performance of the functions prescribed in subsection (a), the Secretary is authorized to (1) enter into such contracts, leases, cooperative agreements, and other transactions as he deems appropriate; (2) accept and use with their consent, with reimbursement, such services, equipment, and facilities of other Federal agencies as are necessary to carry out such functions efficiently and such agencies are authorized to loan, with reimbursement, such services, equipment and facilities to the Department of Transportation; and (3) acquire, by purchase, license, lease, or donation, such secret processes, technical data, inventions, patent applications, patents, licenses, land or any interest in land, plants and facilities, and other property rights as are necessary to carry out such functions; (4) employ experts and consultants who shall be compensated at a rate to be fixed by him but not exceeding $100 per day including travel time, and while so employed away from their homes or regular places of business they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5 of the United States Code for persons in the Government service employed intermittently; and (5) collect and interpret such information and data from Federal agencies, particularly Federal agencies requiring large numbers of vehicles to perform their functions, and from other public and private sources, as he deems necessary; and (6) consult with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of such other Federal departments or agencies as he deems appropriate, to assure maximum coordination in the performance of such functions; and (7) report annually to the President and to the Congress on the administration of this Act and the success of the development of electrically powered vehicles. SEC. 4. There is authorized to be appropriated, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1968, and for each of the succeeding two fiscal years, not to exceed $3,500,000 for carrying out the provisions of this Act. Not less than 50 per centum of the sums appropriated pursuant to the preceding sentence for each fiscal year shall be available only for the designing, testing, and construction (in demonstration quantities) of electrically powered vehicles. FEDERAL POWER COMMISSION, S. 453-90th Congress (Magnuson and Muskie). Hon. WARREN G. MAGNUSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: We enclose copies of the report of the Federal Power Commission on the subject bill and the related bill S. 451, (Muskie, Gruening and Magnuson) on which joint hearings have been set for March 14, 1967, before the Committee on Commerce and the Public Works Subcommittee on Air and Water Pollution. The Bureau of the Budget advises us that there would be no objection to the presentation of this report from the standpoint of the program of the President. Sincerely, LEE C. WHITE, Chairman. FEDERAL POWER COMMISSION, S. 451-90th Congress (Muskie, Gruening and Magnuson). DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In response to your request of January 27, 1967, we enclose copies of the report of the Federal Power Commission on the subject bill and a related bill, S. 453 (Magnuson and Muskie) on which joint hearings have been set by Senators Magnuson and Muskie for March 14, 1967, before the Public Works Subcommittee on Air and Water Pollution and the Committee on Commerce. The Bureau of the Budget advises us that there would be no objection to the presentation of this report from the standpoint of the program of the President. Sincerely, LEE C. WHITE, Chairman. FEDERAL POWER COMMISSION REPORT ON S. 451 AND S. 453 S. 451-A bill "To amend the Clean Air Act in order to authorize an investigation and study to determine means of propelling vehicles so as not to contribute to air pollution." S. 453-A bill "To authorize a program of research, development, and demonstration projects for electrically powered vehicles." These bills which are similar in purpose are designed to promote the research and development of electrically powered vehicles and vehicles propelled by other methods as alternatives to the internal combustion engine. The chief objective of such a research program would be to encourage the use of alternative modes of commercial and personal public and private transportation as a means of combatting the related problems of air pollution, urban congestion, noise and environmental discomforts to which the increasing concentration of internal combustion engines contributes. S. 451 would amend the Clean Air Act to authorize the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make an investigation and study to determine means of propelling vehicles by electric power and other methods so as not to contribute to air pollution. In making such studies the Secretary would be authorized to design, construct, and test such means of propulsion, and to contract with public or private agencies, institutions and organizations, and with individuals. S. 453, in order to stimulate and foster the development of electrically powered vehicles suitable for public and private transportation in urban and suburban areas, would authorize the Secretary of Transportation, directly or by means of grants or contracts "to undertake research, development and demonstration projects which he determines will contribute to the production of practical electrically powered vehicles, including (1) the designing, development, and testing of a fast recovery, long life, maximum power storage battery, and economical and practical fuel cell, and related equipment, and (2) the designing, testing, and construction (in demonstration quantities) of such vehicles." The Secretary would be authorized to consult with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies in carrying out these functions. The Commission strongly urges intensified research and development in all aspects of electric vehicle technology, including rechargeable storage batteries and fuel cells suitable for widespread use in motor vehicles, and the practical commercial application of the available technology. Such intensified programs might lead to solutions which would help alleviate the acute automotive air pollution problems now confronting our large metropolitan areas and would promote American commerce. More active federal support and leadership would stimulate both governmental and non-governmental research efforts and give added incentive to the industries concerned to carry forward development work along these lines. The Commission endorses the purposes of these bills and supports any appropriate measures to secure intensification of research efforts in the field of electric vehicles. We are committed as a Nation to the goal of improving the physical environment, including the air we breathe. Industry, the public, and government agencies at various levels, including the Federal Power Commission, must contribute to solving these problems. The President's message of January 30, 1967 to the 90th Congress on protecting our natural heritage emphasized the importance of measures to stem air pollution. As he stated, sources of air pollution cannot be economically or effectively controlled by our present technology, and the sheer number of motor vehicles may, within a decade or two, defy the best pollution control methods we can develop. Consequently, he added, new types of internal combustion engines “or indeed new propulsion systems" may be required. The Federal air pollution program offers great opportunity for the electric utility industry, particularly in the research sphere, and the Federal Power Commission for some time has recognized the potential significance of stepping up such research. In commenting to the Senate Public Works Committee on the Clean Air Amendment of 1965 (S. 306, 89th Congress), the Commission urged that Federal air pollution control research be directed in part to revolutionary advancements, such as rechargeable batteries for motor vehicles and electrified mass transportation, to handle at least part of the growing traffic now dependent upon the internal combustion engine. Use of electrically propelled vehicles would tend to reduce air pollution (as compared with use of internal combustion vehicles now available) even though requiring increased electric utility generation. To some extent the increase in utility output would be secured through nuclear-fueled generating plants which, unlike fossil fuel plants, do not emit organic wastes, oxides of sulphur, carbon dioxide or oxides of nitrogen. It seems significant that almost two-thirds of the new generating capacity ordered by the electric utility industry in recent months |