Congressman Jerry McNerney and a handful of other representatives will introduce a bill to the House of Representatives on Monday that would force the federal government to lead the charge against global warming.

The so-called Progress Act suggests the government double its commitment to use and research cleaner fuels for its fleet of 630,000 vehicles, with a focus on hydrogen and fuel cell work, plug-in electric hybrids and advanced diesel and variable compression engines.

Such massive federal investment would result in the “widespread availability of technologies that can double the current average vehicle efficiency,” according to McNerney’s office.

The bill would also establish the first commission to bring government, industry and academic leaders together to discuss energy alternatives. The commission would then pass its recommendations to Congress. The new law would create a grant program to encourage the private sector to invest in building bio-fuel pumps, tanks and plants around the country. And it would require the government to put more money into commuter, freight and transit trains.

“We haven’t yet begun to realize the benefits that new energy technology development can offer to this country,” McNerney, D-Pleasanton, told the House.

McNerney, who worked in the alternative energy sector for 20 years, believes the bill could create up to 800,000 new jobs, increase national security by ending dependence on Middle Eastern oil and lower the nation’s energy costs.

Other representatives to sponsor the bill are House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Reps. Bob Etheridge, D-N.C., Steve Israel, D-N.Y., Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., Albio Sires, D-N.J., and Hank Johnson, D-Ga.

President Bush said in his 2007 State of the Union address that he wants the U.S. to get 25 percent of its energy from clean, renewable sources by 2025 — up from the 6 percent used today. Proponents of the Progress Act say it is one of many proposals that would help the country move to meet that goal.

According to McNerney’s spokesman, Andy Stone, the Progress Act is likely to be diced up and sewn together with other proposals before it’s passed into law.

• To contact reporter Niko Kyriakou, call 830-4274, or e-mail niko@tracypress.com.