Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Program Reform Act

To expand the advanced technology vehicles manufacturing incentive program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Program Reform Act 2. Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program expansion (a) Zero-Emission vehicles included (1) In general Section 136 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17013 (A) in subsection (d)— (i) in paragraph (1), by inserting or in paragraph (5) subsection (b) (ii) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) Zero-emission vehicle manufacturing The activities described in this paragraph are an automobile manufacturer, ultra efficient vehicle manufacturer, or component supplier— (A) reequipping, expanding, or establishing a manufacturing facility in the United States to produce zero-emission vehicles or qualifying components; or (B) performing engineering integration in the United States for zero-emission vehicles. ; and (B) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (6) Zero-emission vehicle The term zero-emission vehicle . (2) Conforming amendments Section 136(a) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17013(a) (A) in paragraph (3)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting or zero-emission vehicles advanced technology vehicles (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking components or advanced technology vehicles components, advanced technology vehicles, or zero-emissions vehicles (B) in paragraph (4)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting or zero-emission vehicles advanced technology vehicles (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting or zero-emission vehicles advanced technology vehicles (b) Financial viability requirement modification Section 136(d)(3) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17013(d)(3) (1) by striking in which, as determined by the Secretary the proposed project; for which the Secretary determines— (A) the award recipient— (i) has a reasonable prospect of repaying the principal and interest on the loan; ; (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as clauses (ii) and (iii), respectively; (3) in clause (iii), as redesignated, by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: (B) the amount of the loan, in combination with amounts available to the award recipient from other sources, will be sufficient to carry out the applicable eligible project; and (C) the loan will not be subordinate to other financing. . (c) Rulemaking Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall promulgate regulations to carry out the amendments made by this section. 3. Study on program loans (a) Study The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the barriers to the application for, and issuance of, loans under section 136(d) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17013(d) (b) Briefing Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall provide a briefing to the relevant congressional committees, as determined by the Comptroller General, on the study described in subsection (a). At the time of the briefing, the Comptroller General and such relevant congressional committees shall jointly determine the date by which the report described in subsection (c) shall be submitted to Congress and to the Secretary of Energy. (c) Report Not later than the report submission date determined under subsection (b), the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress and to the Secretary of Energy a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a). (d) Response to report Not later than 180 days after the Secretary of Energy receives the report under subsection (c), the Secretary shall, taking into consideration such report and to the extent authorized by law, promulgate regulations to carry out the program described in section 136(d) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17013(d)

Summary: Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Program Reform Act This bill expands the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program of the Department of Energy. The Government Accountability Office must conduct a study on the barriers to the application for, and issuance of, direct loans under the program, including potential changes to reduce such barriers in order to increase the number of loans.