7 U.S.C. § 8103 — Biorefinery, renewable chemical, and biobased product manufacturing assistance

submitted 18 years ago by Pub. L. 107-171 to r/title-7-AGRICULTURE · 1,858 words · no verdicts yet

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This law creates USDA loan-guarantee and grant programs to help build biorefineries that make advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased products. It sets loan limits, prevailing-wage rules for construction workers, and scoring criteria favoring feasible, diverse projects. It also adds billions in 2022 funding for rural electric cooperatives, biofuel infrastructure, and renewable-electricity loans through 2031.

(a) Purpose. This section exists to help develop new technology for advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased product manufacturing, in order to: reduce U.S. energy dependence on other countries; protect resources, public health, and the environment; open new markets for farm and forestry products and agricultural waste; and create jobs and grow the rural economy. (b) Definitions. "Biobased product manufacturing" means building, upgrading, or retrofitting new commercial-scale equipment and facilities that turn renewable chemicals and other biorefinery outputs into finished products. "Eligible entity" means a person, organization, Indian tribe, or state/local government body — including corporations, farm cooperatives, producer associations, national labs, colleges, rural electric co-ops, public power utilities, or groups of these. "Eligible technology" means, as the Secretary decides, either technology already used commercially in a biorefinery making advanced biofuel, renewable chemicals, or biobased products, or other technology shown to have real commercial potential for making those same products. (c) Assistance. The Secretary must offer eligible entities loan guarantees to fund building, upgrading, or retrofitting commercial-scale biorefineries that use eligible technology. (d) Loan guarantees. The Secretary scores each application and approves only those above a set minimum, based partly on an independent feasibility study. Scoring considers things like: whether there's an established market for the fuel and its byproducts; whether the area already has similar facilities; whether the project uses a new feedstock; whether it partners with producer cooperatives; how much money the applicant and non-federal or private sources contribute; benefits to resource conservation, public health, and the environment; whether it avoids hurting existing plants using similar feedstock; potential for rural economic development; the level of local ownership; and whether it could be copied elsewhere. The Secretary must try to fund a diverse mix of technologies, products, and approaches. Loan limits: a guaranteed loan's principal can't exceed $250,000,000; normally a guarantee can't cover more than 80% of project costs, reduced further by any other direct federal funding the project gets; but the Secretary may guarantee up to 90% of a loan's principal and interest. Half of each year's loan-guarantee funding must be held back for the second half of the fiscal year. (e) Consultation. The Secretary must work with the Secretary of Energy in carrying out this section. (f) Condition on provision of assistance. Anyone getting a grant or loan guarantee under this section must ensure construction workers paid with that money receive at least the locally prevailing wage, as the Secretary of Labor sets under specific wage laws (title 40, sections 3141–3144, 3146, 3147). The Secretary of Labor enforces these wage rules under a 1950 reorganization plan and title 40, section 3145. (g) Funding. Mandatory Commodity Credit Corporation funding, available until spent: $100,000,000 for 2014; $50,000,000 each for 2015 and 2016; $50,000,000 for 2019; and $25,000,000 for 2020. Up to 15% of the 2014–2015 money can go toward biobased product manufacturing. Congress is also authorized, but not required, to separately appropriate $75,000,000 a year for 2014 through 2023. (h) Additional funding for electric loans for renewable energy. For fiscal year 2022, Congress appropriates $1,000,000,000, available until September 30, 2031, for loans under a separate renewable-electricity law (Rural Electrification Act section 317), including electricity-storage projects. Up to 50% of each loan can be forgiven based on how well the borrower meets loan-forgiveness terms the Secretary sets, except as allowed under an exception the Secretary must create for waiving that 50% cap. The Secretary can't sign any loan agreement under this subsection that could result in payments after September 30, 2031. (i) Biofuel infrastructure and agriculture product market expansion. For fiscal year 2022, Congress appropriates $500,000,000, available until September 30, 2031. The Secretary must use it for competitive grants — the federal share capped at 75% of project cost — to increase sales and use of farm-based fuels, by improving infrastructure for blending, storing, supplying, or distributing biofuels (not including transportation infrastructure away from the site). This covers installing or upgrading fuel pumps, storage tanks, and related equipment so stations can sell higher-percentage ethanol and biodiesel blends, and building or upgrading home heating oil distribution systems for ethanol and biodiesel blends. (j) USDA assistance for rural electric cooperatives. For fiscal year 2022, Congress appropriates $9,700,000,000, available until September 30, 2031, to help rural electric systems become more resilient, reliable, and affordable. This money goes to eligible electric cooperatives — tax-exempt co-ops tied to the Rural Electrification Act or serving mostly rural areas — as loans, loan modifications, or other financial help, to cut carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions by buying renewable or zero-emission systems or improving energy efficiency, after August 16, 2022. No single entity can get more than 10% of the total money. A grant can't cover more than 25% of a project's total cost. This subsection doesn't authorize using Commodity Credit Corporation funds beyond what's already authorized elsewhere, and the Secretary can't sign loan or grant agreements that could pay out after September 30, 2031.

the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain

(a) Purpose

The purpose of this section is to assist in the development of new and emerging technologies for the development of advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased product manufacturing so as to—

(1)

increase the energy independence of the United States;

(2)

promote resource conservation, public health, and the environment;

(3)

diversify markets for agricultural and forestry products and agriculture waste material; and

(4)

create jobs and enhance the economic development of the rural economy.

(b) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Biobased product manufacturing

The term “biobased product manufacturing” means development, construction, and retrofitting of technologically new commercial-scale processing and manufacturing equipment and required facilities that will be used to convert renewable chemicals and other biobased outputs of biorefineries into end-user products on a commercial scale.

(2) Eligible entity

The term “eligible entity” means an individual, entity, Indian tribe, or unit of State or local government, including a corporation, farm cooperative, farmer cooperative organization, association of agricultural producers, National Laboratory, institution of higher education, rural electric cooperative, public power entity, or consortium of any of those entities.

(3) Eligible technology

The term “eligible technology” means, as determined by the Secretary—

(A)

a technology that is being adopted in a viable commercial-scale operation of a biorefinery that produces any 1 or more, or a combination, of—

(i)

an advanced biofuel;

(ii)

a renewable chemical; or

(iii)

a biobased product; and

(B)

a technology not described in subparagraph (A) that has been demonstrated to have technical and economic potential for commercial application in a biorefinery that produces any 1 or more, or a combination, of—

(i)

an advanced biofuel;

(ii)

a renewable chemical; or

(iii)

a biobased product.

The Secretary shall make available to eligible entities guarantees for loans made to fund the development, construction, and retrofitting of commercial-scale biorefineries using eligible technology.

(d) Loan guarantees

(1) Selection criteria

(A) In general

In approving loan guarantee applications, the Secretary shall establish a priority scoring system that assigns priority scores to each application and only approve applications that exceed a specified minimum, as determined by the Secretary.

(B) Feasibility

In approving a loan guarantee application, the Secretary shall determine the technical and economic feasibility of the project based on a feasibility study of the project described in the application conducted by an independent third party.

In determining the priority scoring system for loan guarantees under subsection (c), the Secretary shall consider—

(i)

whether the applicant has established a market for the advanced biofuel and the byproducts produced;

(ii)

whether the area in which the applicant proposes to place the biorefinery has other similar facilities;

(iii)

whether the applicant is proposing to use a feedstock not previously used in the production of advanced biofuels;

(iv)

whether the applicant is proposing to work with producer associations or cooperatives;

(v)

the level of financial participation by the applicant, including support from non-Federal and private sources;

(vi)

whether the applicant has established that the adoption of the process proposed in the application will have a positive impact on resource conservation, public health, and the environment;

(vii)

whether the applicant can establish that if adopted, the biofuels production technology proposed in the application will not have any significant negative impacts on existing manufacturing plants or other facilities that use similar feedstocks;

(viii)

the potential for rural economic development;

(ix)

the level of local ownership proposed in the application; and

(x)

whether the project can be replicated.

(D) Project diversity

In approving loan guarantee applications, the Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, there is diversity in the types of projects approved for loan guarantees to ensure that as wide a range as possible of technologies, products, and approaches are assisted.

(2) Limitations

(A) Maximum amount of loan guaranteed

The principal amount of a loan guaranteed under subsection (c) may not exceed $250,000,000.

(B) Maximum percentage of loan guaranteed

(i) In general

Except as otherwise provided in this subparagraph, a loan guaranteed under subsection (c) shall be in an amount not to exceed 80 percent of the project costs, as determined by the Secretary.

(ii) Other direct Federal funding

The amount of a loan guaranteed for a project under subsection (c) shall be reduced by the amount of other direct Federal funding that the eligible entity receives for the same project.

(iii) Authority to guarantee the loan

The Secretary may guarantee up to 90 percent of the principal and interest due on a loan guaranteed under subsection (c).

Of the funds made available for loan guarantees for a fiscal year under subsection (g), 50 percent of the funds shall be reserved for obligation during the second half of the fiscal year.

(e) Consultation

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Energy.

(f) Condition on provision of assistance

(1) In general

As a condition of receiving a grant or loan guarantee under this section, an eligible entity shall ensure that all laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors in the performance of construction work financed, in whole or in part, with the grant or loan guarantee, as the case may be, shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality, as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with sections 3141 through 3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40.

(2) Authority and functions

The Secretary of Labor shall have, with respect to the labor standards described in paragraph (1), the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (5 U.S.C. App) and section 3145 of title 40.

(g) Funding

(1) Mandatory funding

(A) In general

Subject to subparagraph (B), of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use for the cost of loan guarantees under this section, to remain available until expended—

(i)

$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2014;

(ii)

$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 and 2016;

(iii)

$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; and

(iv)

$25,000,000 for fiscal year 2020.

(B) Biobased product manufacturing

Of the total amount of funds made available for fiscal years 2014 and 2015 under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may use for the cost of loan guarantees under this section not more than 15 percent of such funds to promote biobased product manufacturing.

(2) Discretionary funding

In addition to any other funds made available to carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023.

(h) Additional funding for electric loans for renewable energy

(1) Appropriations

Notwithstanding subsections (a) through (e), and (g), in addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2022, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $1,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2031, for the cost of loans under section 317 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 940g), including for projects that store electricity that support the types of eligible projects under that section, which shall be forgiven in an amount that is not greater than 50 percent of the loan based on how the borrower and the project meets the terms and conditions for loan forgiveness consistent with the purposes of that section established by the Secretary, except as provided in paragraph (3).

(2) Limitation

The Secretary shall not enter into any loan agreement pursuant this subsection that could result in disbursements after September 30, 2031.

(3) Exception

The Secretary shall establish criteria for waiving the 50 percent limitation described in paragraph (1).

(i) Biofuel infrastructure and agriculture product market expansion

(1) Appropriation

Notwithstanding subsections (a) through (e) and subsection (g), in addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2022, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $500,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2031, to carry out this subsection.

(2) Use of funds

The Secretary shall use the amounts made available by paragraph (1) to provide grants, for which the Federal share shall be not more than 75 percent of the total cost of carrying out a project for which the grant is provided, on a competitive basis, to increase the sale and use of agricultural commodity-based fuels through infrastructure improvements for blending, storing, supplying, or distributing biofuels, except for transportation infrastructure not on location where such biofuels are blended, stored, supplied, or distributed—

(A)

by installing, retrofitting, or otherwise upgrading fuel dispensers or pumps and related equipment, storage tank system components, and other infrastructure required at a location related to dispensing certain biofuel blends to ensure the increased sales of fuels with high levels of commodity-based ethanol and biodiesel that are at or greater than the levels required in the Notice of Funding Availability for the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program for Fiscal Year 2020, published in the Federal Register (85 Fed. Reg. 26656), as determined by the Secretary; and

(B)

by building and retrofitting home heating oil distribution centers or equivalent entities and distribution systems for ethanol and biodiesel blends.

(j) USDA assistance for rural electric cooperatives

(1) Appropriation

Notwithstanding subsections (a) through (e) and (g), in addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2022, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $9,700,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2031, for the long-term resiliency, reliability, and affordability of rural electric systems by providing to an eligible entity (defined as an electric cooperative described in section 501(c)(12) or 1381(a)(2) of title 26 and is or has been a Rural Utilities Service electric loan borrower pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 [7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.] or serving a predominantly rural area or a wholly or jointly owned subsidiary of such electric cooperative) loans, modifications of loans, the cost of loans and modifications, and other financial assistance to achieve the greatest reduction in carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions associated with rural electric systems through the purchase of renewable energy, renewable energy systems, zero-emission systems, and carbon capture and storage systems, to deploy such systems, or to make energy efficiency improvements to electric generation and transmission systems of the eligible entity after August 16, 2022.

(2) Limitation

No eligible entity may receive an amount equal to more than 10 percent of the total amount made available by this subsection.

(3) Requirement

The amount of a grant under this subsection shall be not more than 25 percent of the total project costs of the eligible entity carrying out a project using a grant under this subsection.

(4) Prohibition

Nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted to authorize funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation for activities under this subsection if such funds are not expressly authorized or currently expended for such purposes.

(5) Disbursements

The Secretary shall not enter into, pursuant to this subsection—

(A)

any loan agreement that may result in a disbursement after September 30, 2031; or

(B)

any grant agreement that may result in any outlay after September 30, 2031.

Source credit: (Pub. L. 107–171, title IX, § 9003, as added Pub. L. 110–234, title IX, § 9001(a), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1310, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title IX, § 9001(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2072; amended Pub. L. 112–240, title VII, § 701(f)(2), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2365; Pub. L. 113–79, title IX, § 9003, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 928; Pub. L. 115–334, title IX, § 9003, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4884; Pub. L. 117–169, title II, §§ 22001, 22003, 22004, Aug. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 2018, 2020.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit

2008Enacted · Pub. L. 107-171 · 122 Stat. 1310
2013Amended · Pub. L. 112-240 · 126 Stat. 2365
2014Amended · Pub. L. 113-79 · 128 Stat. 928
2018Amended · Pub. L. 115-334 · 132 Stat. 4884
2022Amended · Pub. L. 117-169 · 136 Stat. 2018, 2020

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 107-171 on 2008-05-22.

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