Rural Energy Savings Program Act

Bill: 111-hr-4785
Sponsor: Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6]
Introduced: 2010-03-09 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government lending and loan guarantees
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2010-03-09
text: 
Rural Energy Savings Program Act - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), through the Rural Utilities Service, to make interest-free loans to eligible entities for loans to qualified consumers to implement energy efficiency measures. Directs the Secretary to make grants to such entities to defray related costs, including costs for equipment and labor.
 
Directs the Secretary to contact with a qualified entity to provide: (1) verification and measurement activities for the Rural Utilities Service, including training; and (2) technical assistance and training for employees of eligible entities. 
 
Directs the Secretary to enter into agreements with eligible entities, or groups of eligible entities, that have specified energy efficiency programs for energy efficiency loan demonstration projects.

action_date: 2010-09-14
text: 
Rural Energy Savings Program Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), through the Rural Utilities Service, to make interest-free loans to eligible entities for loans (which may bear interest of up to 3%) to qualified consumers to implement energy efficiency measures. 
 
Directs the Secretary to allow an eligible entity to request a special advance to defray initial start-up costs.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop a protocol for eligible entities and qualified entities to use in measuring energy consumption and verifying the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures; (2) establish a measurement and verification advisory committee; (3) enter into cooperative agreements with qualified entities to provide technical assistance and employee training; and (4) maintain a directory of energy efficiency auditors. 
 
Prohibits the Secretary from using such authority to: (1) develop a public labeling system that rates and compares energy performance among qualified consumers; or (2) require public disclosure of an energy performance evaluation developed for any qualified consumer.
 
 
Directs the Secretary to enter into agreements with eligible entities, or groups of eligible entities, that have specified energy efficiency programs for energy efficiency loan demonstration projects that: (1) implement energy audit and investment approaches that yield measurable and predictable savings; (2) use measurement and verification processes to determine loan effectiveness; (3) provide for employee training; (4) provide for participation of a majority of eligible entities in a state; (5) reduce the need for generating capacity; (6) provide efficiency loans to specified numbers of consumers of a single entity or a group of entities; and (7) serve areas where a large percentage of consumers reside in manufactured homes or in housing units that are more than 50 years old.
 
 
Directs the Secretary to report to Congress regarding implementation of this Act.
 
Authorizes appropriations.

action_date: 2010-09-16
text: 
(Sec. 1) Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a Home Star Energy Efficiency Loan Program of interest free loans to states to support financial assistance provided by qualified financing entities for the installation of qualifying energy savings measures.
 
 
Defines &quot;eligible participant&quot; as a homeowner with a gross annual household income of less than $250,000 who receives financial assistance from a qualified financing entity to carry out qualifying energy savings measures and who is not also a qualified consumer. Prohibits participation by a homeowner who is more than six months delinquent in child support payments.
 
Directs the Secretary to publish: (1) a list of appropriate residential energy efficiency measures (which shall not include the installation or replacement of pool heaters or the installation of Energy Star televisions); and (2) an energy savings verification protocol.
 
Sets forth eligibility criteria for qualifying financing entities.
 
Authorizes FY2010-FY2014 appropriations subject to the requirement that enactment of this Act would not increase direct spending.
 
 
 (Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), through the Rural Utilities Service, to establish the Rural Star Energy Savings Program to make interest-free loans to eligible entities for loans to qualified consumers (which may bear interest of up to 3%) to implement approved residential or farm energy efficiency measures. 
 
Directs the Secretary to allow an eligible entity to request a special advance to defray initial startup costs.
 
Prohibits loans from being used to: (1) purchase a manufactured home; or (2) purchase personal property that is not attached to real property as a fixture.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a measurement and verification advisory committee; and (2) maintain a directory of energy efficiency auditors. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with qualified entities to provide technical assistance and employee training.
 
Prohibits the Secretary from using such authority to: (1) develop a public labeling system that rates and compares energy performance among qualified consumers; or (2) require public disclosure of an energy performance evaluation developed for any qualified consumer.
 
Directs the Secretary to enter into agreements with eligible entities, or groups of eligible entities, that have specified energy efficiency programs for energy efficiency loan demonstration projects that: (1) implement energy audit and investment approaches that yield measurable and predictable savings; (2) use measurement and verification processes to determine loan effectiveness; (3) provide for employee training; (4) provide for participation of a majority of eligible entities in a state; (5) reduce the need for generating capacity; (6) provide efficiency loans to specified numbers of consumers of a single entity or a group of entities; and (7) serve areas where a large percentage of consumers reside in manufactured homes or in housing units that are more than 50 years old.
 
(Sec. 3) Requires lenders under this Act to give priority to members of the Armed Forces on active duty and to veterans. 
 
(Sec. 4) Prohibits the Secretary of Energy (DOE) and the Secretary of Agriculture from providing funds under this Act to any contractor that employs an employee to work in a consumer's home if that employee has been convicted of, or plead guilty to, a crime of child molestation, rape, or any other form of sexual assault.
 
(Sec. 5) Prohibits a loan under this Act from being provided to a federal employee who: (1) has a seriously delinquent tax debt; (2) received, but was ineligible for, a payment under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981; or (3) has been officially disciplined for viewing, downloading, or exchanging pornography, including child pornography, on a federal government computer or while performing official federal government duties.
 
 (Sec. 7) States that: (1) funds authorized by this Act shall only be made available for the purpose of carrying out qualifying energy savings measures on a primary residence; and (2) neither the Secretary of Energy nor the Secretary of Agriculture shall provide funds authorized by this Act to any contractor that has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any fraudulent offense.
 
 
(Sec. 8) States that the provisions of this Act shall be suspended and shall not apply if this Act will have a negative effect on the U.S. national deficit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-20
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 240 - 172 (Roll no. 530).
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 240 - 172 (Roll no. 530).
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: The previous question was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H6790)
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: On motion to recommit with instructions Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Shadegg motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment which requires certain provisions be met in order for funds to be made available. The amendment also states that the provisions of the Act shall be suspended and shall not apply if the Act will have a negative effect on the national budget deficit of the United States.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Mr. Shadegg moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce. (consideration: CR H6789-6790; text: CR H6789)
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text: CR H6782-6785)
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H6788)
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4785.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of an amendment which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1620, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Butterfield amendment.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1620, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McCarthy (NY) amendment.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1620, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cuellar amendment.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Holden amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Holden demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1620, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Holden amendment.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4785.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable John T. Salazar to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1620 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4785 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. The resolution waives all points of order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI. The resolution makes in order only those amendments printed in Part B of the report. All points of order against the amendments in part B except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI are waived. The resolution provides that the Chair may not entertain a motion to strike out the enacting words of the bill.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1620. (consideration: CR H6777-6791)
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Rule H. Res. 1620 passed House.
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1620 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4785 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. The resolution waives all points of order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI. The resolution makes in order only those amendments printed in Part B of the report. All points of order against the amendments in part B except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI are waived. The resolution provides that the Chair may not entertain a motion to strike out the enacting words of the bill.
action_date: 2010-09-14
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 335.
action_date: 2010-09-14
text: Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
action_date: 2010-09-14
text: Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
action_date: 2010-09-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 111-585, Part I.
action_date: 2010-09-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 111-585, Part I.
action_date: 2010-07-14
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2010-05-12
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2010-03-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
action_date: 2010-03-09
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2010-03-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2010-03-09
text: Referred to House Agriculture
action_date: 2010-03-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-03-09
text: Introduced in House