REFUEL Act

To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to establish a competitive grant program for renewable fuel infrastructure, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Renewable Fuel Utilization, Expansion, and Leadership Act REFUEL Act 2. Renewable fuel infrastructure grant program Title IX of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 8101 9014. Renewable fuel infrastructure grant program (a) Establishment The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a renewable and alternative energy infrastructure competitive grant program to provide grants for renewable and alternative energy infrastructure projects. (b) Eligible projects A project shall be eligible for a grant under subsection (a) if the project— (1) is for new infrastructure or retrofitting existing infrastructure for the dispensing of covered renewable or alternative energy (including pumps, storage tanks, internal tank lining, piping, and electric vehicle chargers) for retail consumption; and (2) the project will be capable of dispensing fuel containing an amount of covered renewable or alternative energy that is higher than ordinarily found in commerce, as determined by the Secretary. (c) Prioritization In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to projects in rural areas. (d) Maximum grant A grant awarded under this section shall not exceed $100,000. (e) Matching funds An entity that receives a grant under this section shall contribute an amount of non-Federal funds towards the project for which such entity receives such grant that is at least equal to 30 percent of the amount of grant funds received by such entity under this section for such project. (f) Funding (1) In general From amounts received by the United States each fiscal year as royalties for the production of oil under oil and gas leases granted under section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1337 (2) Other disbursements not affected Paragraph (1) shall not affect any requirement to use such amounts to make payments for any other purpose. (g) Covered renewable or alternative energy defined In this section, the term covered renewable or alternative energy .

Summary: Renewable Fuel Utilization, Expansion, and Leadership Act or the REFUEL Act - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a renewable and alternative energy infrastructure competitive grant program. Makes eligible for such grants projects that are: (1) for new infrastructure or retrofitting existing infrastructure for the dispensing of covered renewable or alternative energy for retail consumption, and (2) capable of dispensing fuel containing an amount of covered renewable or alternative energy that is higher than ordinarily found in commerce. Requires that priority be given to projects in rural areas and that entities receiving grants provide at least a 30% match of federal funds. Dedicates to the grant program 1% of amounts received as royalties for production of oil from oil and gas leases under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Defines &quot;covered renewable or alternative energy&quot; as renewable energy, energy intended for use in electric vehicle charging, and hydrogen and fuel cells.