Biofuels Market Expansion Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1563
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2013-09-30
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Air quality

Alternative and renewable resources

Department of Energy

Government lending and loan guarantees

Motor fuels

Motor vehicles

Pipelines

Transportation programs funding
Latest action: action_date: 2013-09-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-09-30
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Biofuels Market Expansion Act of 2013 - Amends the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act, with respect to the installation of renewable fuel pumps and tanks, to revise the ethanol content requirements for renewable fuel to mean any fuel which is at least 10% ethanol by volume.</p> <p>Requires automobile manufacturers to ensure that at least 50% of 2015 and 2016 model year automobiles and light duty trucks manufactured for sale in the United States are dual fueled. Increases the minimum to 90% for 2017 and subsequent model years. (Excludes automobiles and light duty trucks that operate only on electricity.)</p> <p>Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to make grants to eligible facilities to pay the federal share of: (1) installing blender pump fuel infrastructure, including infrastructure necessary for the direct retail sale of ethanol fuel blends (including E-85 fuel); and (2) providing subgrants to direct retailers of such fuels for the installation of such infrastructure. Prohibits a major fuel distributor (any person that owns a refinery or that directly markets the output of a refinery through at least 50 retail fueling stations) from being eligible for such grants or subgrants.</p> <p>Amends the Clean Air Act to revise the renewable fuel program to require the Secretary to promulgate regulations to ensure that each major fuel distributor that sells or introduces gasoline into commerce in the United States through majority-owned stations or branded stations installs one or more blender pumps that dispense E-85 fuel and ethanol fuel blends at: (1) an overall percentage of such stations increasing from 10% in 2016 to 50% in 2022, and (2) a specified minimum percentage of such stations in each state. Allows such distributors to earn credits if they exceed such percentages and to sell such credits to other distributors, except for use to fulfill the state distribution requirement.</p> <p>Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to make renewable fuel pipelines eligible for loan guarantees for projects that avoid, reduce, or sequester air pollutants or anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and employ new or significantly improved technologies as compared to commercial technologies in service in the United States at the time the guarantee is issued.</p> <p>Amends the temporary program for rapid deployment of renewable energy and electric power transmission projects to make eligible for loan guarantees projects for the installation of sufficient infrastructure to allow for the cost-effective deployment of clean energy technologies appropriate to each region of the United States.</p>

tv_txt: II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1563 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 30, 2013 Mr. Harkin (for himself, Mr. Franken , Mr. Johnson of South Dakota , and Ms. Klobuchar ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To provide for the expansion of the biofuels market.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Biofuels Market Expansion Act of 2013 . 2. Prohibition on restriction of installation of renewable fuel pumps Section 107(a)(1) of the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act ( 15 U.S.C. 2807(a)(1) ) is amended by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following: (A) which is not less than 10 percent ethanol by volume; or . 3. Ensuring the availability of dual fueled automobiles and light duty trucks (a) In general Chapter 329 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 32902 the following: 32902A. Requirement to manufacture dual fueled automobiles and light duty trucks (a) In general For each model year listed in the following table, each manufacturer shall ensure that the percentage of automobiles and light duty trucks manufactured by the manufacturer for sale in the United States that are dual fueled automobiles and light duty trucks is not less than the percentage set forth for that model year in the following table: Model year Percentage Model years 2015 and 2016 50 percent Model year 2017 and each subsequent model year 90 percent. (b) Exception Subsection (a) shall not apply to automobiles or light duty trucks that operate only on electricity. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 329 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 32902 the following: 32902A. Requirement to manufacture dual fueled automobiles and light duty trucks. . (c) Rulemaking Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations to carry out the amendments made by this Act. 4. Blender pump promotion (a) Blender Pump grant program (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Blender pump The term blender pump means an automotive fuel dispensing pump capable of dispensing at least 3 different blends of gasoline and ethanol, as selected by the pump operator, including blends ranging from 0 percent ethanol to 85 percent denatured ethanol, as determined by the Secretary. (B) E–85 fuel The term E–85 fuel means a blend of gasoline approximately 85 percent of the content of which is ethanol. (C) Ethanol fuel blend The term ethanol fuel blend means a blend of gasoline and ethanol, with a minimum of 0 percent and maximum of 85 percent of the content of which is denatured ethanol. (D) Major fuel distributor (i) In general The term major fuel distributor means any person that owns a refinery or directly markets the output of a refinery. (ii) Exclusion The term major fuel distributor does not include any person that directly markets through less than 50 retail fueling stations. (E) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy. (2) Grants The Secretary shall make grants under this subsection to eligible facilities (as determined by the Secretary) to pay the Federal share of— (A) installing blender pump fuel infrastructure, including infrastructure necessary for the direct retail sale of ethanol fuel blends (including E–85 fuel), including blender pumps and storage tanks; and (B) providing subgrants to direct retailers of ethanol fuel blends (including E–85 fuel) for the purpose of installing fuel infrastructure for the direct retail sale of ethanol fuel blends (including E–85 fuel), including blender pumps and storage tanks. (3) Limitation A major fuel distributor shall not be eligible for a grant or subgrant under this subsection. (4) Federal share The Federal share of the cost of a project carried out under this subsection shall be up to 50 percent of the total cost of the project. (5) Reversion If an eligible facility or retailer that receives a grant or subgrant under this subsection does not offer ethanol fuel blends for sale for at least 2 years during the 4-year period beginning on the date of installation of the blender pump, the eligible facility or retailer shall be required to repay to the Secretary an amount determined to be appropriate by the Secretary, but not more than the amount of the grant provided to the eligible facility or retailer under this subsection. (6) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection, to remain available until expended— (A) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2014; (B) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; (C) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; (D) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; and (E) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2018. (b) Installation of blender pumps by major fuel distributors at owned stations and branded stations Section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7545(o) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (13) Installation of blender pumps by major fuel distributors at owned stations and branded stations (A) Definitions In this paragraph: (i) E–85 fuel The term E–85 fuel means a blend of gasoline approximately 85 percent of the content of which is ethanol. (ii) Ethanol fuel blend The term ethanol fuel blend means a blend of gasoline and ethanol, with a minimum of 0 percent and maximum of 85 percent of the content of which is denatured ethanol. (iii) Major fuel distributor (I) In general The term major fuel distributor means any person that owns a refinery or directly markets the output of a refinery. (II) Exclusion The term major fuel distributor does not include any person that directly markets through less than 50 retail fueling stations. (iv) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy, acting in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of Agriculture. (B) Regulations The Secretary shall promulgate regulations to ensure that each major fuel distributor that sells or introduces gasoline into commerce in the United States through majority-owned stations or branded stations installs or otherwise makes available one or more blender pumps that dispense E–85 fuel and ethanol fuel blends (including any other equipment necessary, such as tanks, to ensure that the pumps function properly) for a period of not less than 5 years at not less than the applicable percentage of the majority-owned stations and the branded stations of the major fuel distributor specified in subparagraph (C). (C) Applicable percentage For the purpose of subparagraph (B), the applicable percentage of the majority-owned stations and the branded stations shall be determined in accordance with the following table: Applicable percentage of  majority-owned stations and  branded stations  Calendar year: Percent: 2016 10 2018 20 2020 35 2022 and each calendar year thereafter 50. (D) Geographic distribution (i) In general Subject to clause (ii), in promulgating regulations under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall ensure that each major fuel distributor described in that subparagraph installs or otherwise makes available one or more blender pumps that dispense E–85 fuel and ethanol fuel blends at not less than a minimum percentage (specified in the regulations) of the majority-owned stations and the branded stations of the major fuel distributors in each State. (ii) Requirement In specifying the minimum percentage under clause (i), the Secretary shall ensure that each major fuel distributor installs or otherwise makes available one or more blender pumps described in that clause in each State in which the major fuel distributor operates. (E) Financial responsibility In promulgating regulations under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall ensure that each major fuel distributor described in that subparagraph assumes full financial responsibility for the costs of installing or otherwise making available the blender pumps described in that subparagraph and any other equipment necessary (including tanks) to ensure that the pumps function properly. (F) Production credits for exceeding blender pumps installation requirement (i) Earning and period for applying credits If the percentage of the majority-owned stations and the branded stations of a major fuel distributor at which the major fuel distributor installs blender pumps in a particular calendar year exceeds the percentage required under subparagraph (C), the major fuel distributor shall earn credits under this paragraph, which may be applied to any of the 3 consecutive calendar years immediately after the calendar year for which the credits are earned. (ii) Trading credits Subject to clause (iii), a major fuel distributor that has earned credits under clause (i) may sell the credits to another major fuel distributor to enable the purchaser to meet the requirement under subparagraph (C). (iii) Exception A major fuel distributor may not use credits purchased under clause (ii) to fulfill the geographic distribution requirement in subparagraph (D). . 5. Loan guarantees for projects to construct renewable fuel pipelines (a) Definitions Section 1701 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 16511 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (6) Renewable fuel The term renewable fuel has the meaning given the term in section 211(o)(1) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(1) ), except that the term includes all types of ethanol and biodiesel. (7) Renewable fuel pipeline The term renewable fuel pipeline means a pipeline for transporting renewable fuel. . (b) Amount Section 1702(c) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 16512(c) ) is amended— (1) by striking (c) Amount .—Unless and inserting the following: (c) Amount (1) In general Unless ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (2) Renewable fuel pipelines A guarantee for a project described in section 1703(b)(11) shall be in an amount equal to 80 percent of the project cost of the facility that is the subject of the guarantee, as estimated at the time at which the guarantee is issued. . (c) Renewable fuel pipeline eligibility Section 1703(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 16513(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (11) Renewable fuel pipelines. . (d) Rapid deployment of renewable fuel pipelines Section 1705 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 16516 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting “, or, in the case of projects described in paragraph (4), September 30, 2012” before the colon at the end; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (4) Installation of sufficient infrastructure to allow for the cost-effective deployment of clean energy technologies appropriate to each region of the United States, including the deployment of renewable fuel pipelines through loan guarantees in an amount equal to 80 percent of the cost. ; and (2) in subsection (e), by inserting “, or, in the case of projects described in subsection (a)(4), September 30, 2012” before the period at the end. (e) Regulations Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out the amendments made by this section.