REFUEL Act

Bill: 114-hr-4673
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Loebsack, David [D-IA-2]
Introduced: 2016-03-02
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources

Energy revenues and royalties

Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles

Infrastructure development

Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Motor fuels

Oil and gas

Retail and wholesale trades

Rural conditions and development
Latest action: action_date: 2016-03-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-03-02
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Renewable Fuel Utilization, Expansion, and Leadership Act or the REFUEL Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Department of Agriculture (USDA)to establish a competitive grant program for renewable and alternative energy fueling infrastructure projects.</p> <p>Projects may be new or for the retrofit of existing renewable and alternative energy infrastructure and must be capable of dispensing fuel or energy not widely available.</p> <p> USDA must prioritize awarding grants for projects locatedin rural areas.</p> <p>Entities that receive funding from USDA must contribute at least30% of any allotted amount towards the project and are eligible to receive a maximum of $100,000.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4673 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 2, 2016 Mr. Loebsack (for himself, Mr. Walz , Mr. Peterson , Mr. Pocan , and Mrs. Bustos ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture , and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources , 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 A BILL 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 or the 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 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 9014. Renewable and alternative energy 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 renewable and alternative energy infrastructure or retrofitting existing renewable and alternative energy infrastructure for the dispensing of covered renewable or alternative energy for retail consumption; and (2) 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 ), 1 percent shall be available to the Secretary to carry out this section. (2) Other disbursements not affected Paragraph (1) shall not affect any requirement to use amounts described in paragraph (1) to make payments for any other purpose. (g) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered renewable or alternative energy The term covered renewable or alternative energy means renewable energy, energy intended for use in electric vehicle charging, and hydrogen and fuel cells. (2) Renewable and alternative energy infrastructure The term renewable and alternative energy infrastructure includes pumps, storage tanks, internal tank lining, piping, and electric vehicle chargers used in the process of dispensing fuel containing covered renewable or alternative energy. .