Washington- Rep. Joe Pitts (PA-16) voted today for the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009, a bill sponsored by Rep. Gary Peters (D-MI) that will promote a broad range of projects to decrease vehicle dependence on petroleum. The bill, which passed with broad bipartisan support, authorizes $2.85 billion for the Department of Energy to conduct research and development projects that will help reduce emissions while increasing efficiency of all vehicles.

The new demonstration programs created by this bill will focus on all classes of vehicles from passenger cars to heavy duty commercial vehicles. Specific research subjects include hydrogen, battery technology, fuel cell technology, electrical grid connectivity, and improving aerodynamics and engine capacity.

Rep. Pitts statement follows:

“Bipartisan solutions like today’s bill will go a long way in helping to develop cars and trucks that use little or no fossil fuels. Without improvements, heavy truck fuel consumption will increase 23 percent by 2030. Such vehicles are a critical part of our infrastructure and improving their efficiency will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

“Today’s bill however, is only half the equation. Freeing ourselves from dependence on foreign fossil fuel will require continued development of domestic energy sources including nuclear power. I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner on ‘all of the above’ solutions to our energy demands.”