42 U.S.C. § 13236 — Alternative fuel bus program

(a) Cooperative agreements and joint ventures: The Secretary of Transportation, working with the Secretary of Energy, can enter cooperative agreements and joint ventures with municipal, county, or regional transit authorities in urban areas with more than 100,000 people. These agreements test whether alternative fuels work commercially in urban buses and other mass-transit vehicles, including testing vehicle safety. Private companies can join in and contribute cash or other help. This federal funding comes on top of any other federal money available for the same purpose. (b) Limitations: The Secretary of Transportation cannot enter one of these agreements unless the transit authority agrees to pay 20 percent of the project's cost. The Secretary can give priority to any group that shows using alternative fuels would significantly help the environment. (c) School buses: The Secretary of Transportation can also pay part of the extra cost of school buses that run only on alternative fuel and are used regularly during the school year. This money can cover buying and installing alternative-fuel refueling equipment for school buses and converting buses to run on alternative fuel. If a private contractor handles the busing for a school district, the Secretary can pay that contractor directly if the school district asks. Any conversion must follow the warranty and safety rules for alternative-fuel conversions in section 7587 of this title. (d) Authorization of appropriations: Congress may provide no more than $30,000,000 each year for fiscal years 1993, 1994, and 1995 to pay for this program.