Section 16.045. Gasohol, alternative fuels,

  and hybrid-electric vehicles.

(1)  In this section:

(a) “Agency" means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, that is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or in ch. 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 , 237 , 238 , or 279 .

(b) “Alternative fuel" means any of the following fuels the use of which the department of natural resources finds would improve air quality as compared to the use of gasoline or petroleum-based diesel fuel:

1. Biodiesel fuel.

2. Methanol.

3. Ethanol.

4. Natural gas.

5. Propane.

6. Hydrogen.

7. Coal-derived liquid.

8. Electricity.

8m. Solar energy.

9. Fuel derived from biological material.

10. Any other fuel except gasohol that the department of natural resources finds to be composed substantially of material other than petroleum, the use of which would yield substantial environmental benefits.

(c) “Biodiesel fuel" means a fuel that is comprised of monoalkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, either in pure form or mixed in any combination with petroleum-based diesel fuel.

(cm) “Flex fuel vehicle" means a vehicle designed to operate on gasoline, a blend of a fuel marketed as gasoline and 85 percent ethanol or a higher percentage of ethanol, or a mixture of gasoline and that blend.

(d) “Gasohol" means any motor fuel containing at least 10 percent alcohol the use of which the department of natural resources finds would improve air quality as compared to the use of gasoline or petroleum-based diesel fuel.

(e) “Hybrid-electric vehicle" means a vehicle that has a chemically fueled internal combustion engine which is capable of operating on gasoline, one or more alternative fuels, or diesel fuel, or by means of a gas turbine, and is also equipped with an electric motor and an energy storage device .

(2)  The department shall, whenever feasible and cost-effective, encourage agencies to store no motor fuel except gasohol or alternative fuel in facilities maintained by the agencies for the storage of fuel for and the refueling of state-owned or state-leased vehicles. This subsection does not authorize construction or operation of such facilities.

(3)  The department shall, by the most economical means feasible, place a copy of the current list of gasohol and alternative fuel refueling facilities received from the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 100.265 in each state-leased motor vehicle that is stored on state property for more than 7 days and in each state-owned motor vehicle. The department shall also make reasonable efforts to inform state officers and employees whose responsibilities make them likely to be using motor vehicles in connection with state business of the existence and contents of the list maintained under s. 100.265 and of any revisions thereto. The department may distribute the list or information relating to the list with salary payments or expense reimbursements to state officers and employees.

(4)  The department shall, whenever feasible and cost-effective, encourage all state employees to utilize hybrid-electric vehicles or vehicles that operate on gasohol or alternative fuel for all state-owned or state-leased motor vehicles whenever such utilization is feasible. However, the department shall not lease or purchase any hybrid-electric vehicle, or authorize the lease or purchase of any hybrid-electric vehicle, unless the manufacturer certifies to the department that final assembly of the vehicle occurred in the United States.

(4m)  The department shall, whenever feasible and cost-effective, encourage all agencies to collectively reduce the usage of gasoline and diesel fuel in state-owned vehicles that is petroleum-based below the total amount that the agencies used in 2006 by at least the following percentages:

(a) For gasoline, 20 percent by 2015.

(b) For diesel fuel, 10 percent by 2015.

(5)  The department shall, whenever feasible and cost-effective, encourage distribution of gasohol and alternative fuels and usage of hybrid-electric vehicles or vehicles that operate on gasohol or alternative fuels by officers and employees who use personal motor vehicles on state business and by residents of this state generally.

1993 a. 351 ; 1995 a. 27 ; 1997 a. 73 ; 2001 a. 16 ; 2003 a. 311 ; 2005 a. 74 , 83 , 335 ; 2007 a. 20 , 97 ; 2009 a. 28 , 401 ; 2011 a. 7 , 10 , 32 , 229 ; 2013 a. 20 , 165 .