26 U.S.C. § 54C (INTERNAL REVENUE CODE)
§ 54C. New clean renewable energy bonds
(a) New clean renewable energy bond
For purposes of this subpart, the term “new clean renewable energy bond” means any bond issued as part of an issue if—
(1) 100 percent of the available project proceeds of such issue are to be used for capital expenditures incurred by governmental bodies, public power providers, or cooperative electric companies for one or more qualified renewable energy facilities,
(2) the bond is issued by a qualified issuer, and
(3) the issuer designates such bond for purposes of this section.
(b) Reduced credit amount
The annual credit determined under section 54A(b) with respect to any new clean renewable energy bond shall be 70 percent of the amount so determined without regard to this subsection.
(c) Limitation on amount of bonds designated
(1) In general
The maximum aggregate face amount of bonds which may be designated under subsection (a) by any issuer shall not exceed the limitation amount allocated under this subsection to such issuer.
(2) National limitation on amount of bonds designated
There is a national new clean renewable energy bond limitation of $800,000,000 which shall be allocated by the Secretary as provided in paragraph (3), except that—
(A) not more than 33⅓ percent thereof may be allocated to qualified projects of public power providers,
(B) not more than 33⅓ percent thereof may be allocated to qualified projects of governmental bodies, and
(C) not more than 33⅓ percent thereof may be allocated to qualified projects of cooperative electric companies.
(3) Method of allocation
(A) Allocation among public power providers
After the Secretary determines the qualified projects of public power providers which are appropriate for receiving an allocation of the national new clean renewable energy bond limitation, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, make allocations among such projects in such manner that the amount allocated to each such project bears the same ratio to the cost of such project as the limitation under paragraph (2)(A) bears to the cost of all such projects.
(B) Allocation among governmental bodies and cooperative electric companies
The Secretary shall make allocations of the amount of the national new clean renewable energy bond limitation described in paragraphs (2)(B) and (2)(C) among qualified projects of governmental bodies and cooperative electric companies, respectively, in such manner as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(4) Additional limitation
The national new clean renewable energy bond limitation shall be increased by $1,600,000,000. Such increase shall be allocated by the Secretary consistent with the rules of paragraphs (2) and (3).
(d) Definitions
For purposes of this section—
(1) Qualified renewable energy facility
The term “qualified renewable energy facility” means a qualified facility (as determined under section 45(d) without regard to paragraphs (8) and (10) thereof and to any placed in service date) owned by a public power provider, a governmental body, or a cooperative electric company.
(2) Public power provider
The term “public power provider” means a State utility with a service obligation, as such terms are defined in section 217 of the Federal Power Act (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this paragraph).
(3) Governmental body
The term “governmental body” means any State or Indian tribal government, or any political subdivision thereof.
(4) Cooperative electric company
The term “cooperative electric company” means a mutual or cooperative electric company described in section 501(c)(12) or section 1381(a)(2)(C).
(5) Clean renewable energy bond lender
The term “clean renewable energy bond lender” means a lender which is a cooperative which is owned by, or has outstanding loans to, 100 or more cooperative electric companies and is in existence on February 1, 2002, and shall include any affiliated entity which is controlled by such lender.
(6) Qualified issuer
The term “qualified issuer” means a public power provider, a cooperative electric company, a governmental body, a clean renewable energy bond lender, or a not-for-profit electric utility which has received a loan or loan guarantee under the Rural Electrification Act.
(Added Pub. L. 110–343, div. B, title I, § 107(a), Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3817; amended Pub. L. 111–5, div. B, title I, § 1111, Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 322.)
heading: References in Text
text: Section 217 of the Federal Power Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(2), is classified to section 824q of Title 16, Conservation.
The date of the enactment of this paragraph, referred to in subsec. (d)(2), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–343, which was approved Oct. 3, 2008.
The Rural Electrification Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(6), probably means the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, act May 20, 1936, ch. 432, 49 Stat. 1363, which is classified generally to chapter 31 (§ 901 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 901 of Title 7 and Tables.
heading: Amendments
text: 2009—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 111–5 added par. (4).
heading: Effective Date
text: Section applicable to obligations issued after Oct. 3, 2008, see section 107(d) of Pub. L. 110–343, set out as an Effective Date of 2008 Amendment note under section 54 of this title.
heading: Application of Certain Labor Standards to Projects Financed With Certain Tax-Favored Bonds
text: Pub. L. 111–5, div. B, title I, § 1601, Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 362, provided that:
“Subchapter IV of chapter 31 of the [sic] title 40, United States Code, shall apply to projects financed with the proceeds of—
“(1) any new clean renewable energy bond (as defined in section 54C of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) issued after the date of the enactment of this Act [Feb. 17, 2009],
“(2) any qualified energy conservation bond (as defined in section 54D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) issued after the date of the enactment of this Act,
“(3) any qualified zone academy bond (as defined in section 54E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) issued after the date of the enactment of this Act,
“(4) any qualified school construction bond (as defined in section 54F of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), and
“(5) any recovery zone economic development bond (as defined in section 1400U–2 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).”