zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow an excise tax credit through 2018 for alternative fuels and fuel mixtures involving compressed or liquefied natural gas, (2) allow an income tax credit through 2018 for alternative fuel motor vehicles powered by compressed or liquefied natural gas and make Indian tribal governments eligible for such credit, (3) modify the tax credit percentage for alternative fuel vehicles fueled by natural gas or liquefied natural gas, (4) allow a new tax credit for the production of vehicles fueled by natural gas or liquefied natural gas, and (5) extend through 2018 the tax credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property expenditures for refueling property relating to compressed or liquefied natural gas and allow an increased credit for such property.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to provide funding to improve the performance, efficiency, and integration of natural gas powered motor vehicles and heavy-duty on-road vehicles. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to manufacturers of light and heavy duty natural gas vehicles for the development of engines that reduce emissions, improve performance and efficiency, and lower cost.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should streamline the process for certification of natural gas vehicle retrofit kits to promote energy security and provide incentives to encourage and reward manufacturers who produce natural gas powered vehicles.

Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to allocate funds for vehicles that are repowered or converted to operate on an alternative fuel.

Date: 2013-03-21
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Reducing Regulatory Obstacles to Wind Energy Production Act - Exempts projects determined by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the Forest Service to be meteorological site testing and monitoring projects from environmental impact statement requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).

Defines a "meteorological site testing and monitoring project" as a project that is carried out on land administered by BLM or the Forest Service to test or monitor weather using towers or other devices, that is decommissioned within five years of its commencement, that provides meteorological information to such agencies, that causes less than one acre of soil or vegetation disruption at the location of each meteorological tower or other device and no more than five acres of soil or disruption within the proposed right-of-way for the project, and that is installed: (1) using existing access roads, (2) in a manner that does not require off-road motorized access other than one installation activity and one decommissioning activity along an identified off-road route approved by the BLM Director or the Chief of the Forest Service, (3) without construction of new roads other than upgrading of existing minor drainage crossings for safety purposes, and (4) without the use of digging or drilling equipment vehicles other than rubber-tired vehicles with gross weight ratings under 8,500 pounds.

Requires the BLM Director or Chief of the Forest Service: (1) to decide whether to issue a permit for such a project within 30 days after receiving an application for such permit; (2) during such period, to provide an opportunity for public comments and to consult with the heads of agencies that would be affected by issuance of the permit; and (3) to provide to the applicant reasons why an application is denied and an opportunity to remedy any deficiencies.

 Requires BLM and the Forest Service to treat the meteorological information provided under this Act as proprietary information and to protect it against disclosure.

Date: 2013-03-21
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Advancing Offshore Wind Production Act - Exempts any project determined by the Secretary of the Interior to be an offshore meteorological site testing and monitoring project from environmental impact statement requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).

Defines an "offshore meteorological site testing and monitoring project" as a project that is administered by the Department of the Interior and carried out on or in the waters of the Outer Continental Shelf to test or monitor weather (including wind, tidal, current, and solar energy) using towers, buoys, or other temporary ocean infrastructure and that: (1) causes less than one acre of surface or seafloor disruption at the location of each meteorological tower or other device and no more than five acres of surface or seafloor disruption within the proposed area affected by the project (including hazards to navigation), (2) is decommissioned within five years of its commencement, and (3) provides meteorological information to the Secretary of the Interior.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) require that any applicant seeking to conduct an offshore meteorological site testing and monitoring project on the outer Continental Shelf obtain a permit and right of way; (2) determine whether to issue such a permit and right of way within 30 days after receiving an application; (3) provide an opportunity for submission of comments by the public; (4) consult with the Secretary of Defense (DOD), the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and the heads of other federal, state, and local agencies that would be affected by issuance of the permit and right of way; and (5) provide an applicant the opportunity to remedy deficiencies in an application that was denied.

Date: 2013-03-21
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Renewable Fuel Standard Elimination Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to repeal the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) renewable fuel program.

Date: 2013-04-10
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Renewable Fuel Standard Amendments Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to revise the renewable fuel program. Requires renewable fuel, beginning on January 1, 2014, to be advanced biofuel.

Revises the renewable fuel standards by: (1) decreasing the volume of renewable fuel that is required to be contained in gasoline sold or introduced into commerce in the United States in 2014 through 2022, and (2) revoking the separate advanced biofuel standard for those years.

Date: 2013-04-10
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Make it in America: Create Clean Energy Manufacturing Jobs in America Act - Authorizes federal acquisition of, or the provision of federal funds to states for purchase of, only green technologies that are 85% manufactured in the United States from articles, materials, or supplies that are 85% grown, produced, or manufactured in the United States. Provides that such percentage shall be 50% in the first fiscal year after enactment and 60% in the second fiscal year.

Defines "green technologies" to mean renewable energy and energy efficiency products and services that: (1) reduce dependence on unreliable sources of energy by encouraging the use of sustainable biomass, wind, small-scale hydroelectric, solar, geothermal, and other renewable energy and energy efficiency products and services; and (2) use hybrid fossil-renewable energy systems.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit treating any facility originally placed in service after the enactment of this Act as a qualified facility for purposes of the renewable energy production and investment tax credits unless such facility is 85% manufactured in the United States from articles, materials, or supplies that are 85% grown, produced, or manufactured in the United States. Provides that such percentage shall be 50% for a facility placed in service during 2013, and 60% for a facility placed in service during 2014.

Date: 2013-04-12
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Domestic Alternative Fuels Act of 2013 - Amends the Clean Air Act to revise the Renewable Fuel Program to: (1) provide that the applicable volume of renewable fuel required in transportation fuel sold or introduced into commerce in the United States for 2013 through 2022 shall apply in the aggregate to renewable fuel and domestic alternative fuel, and (2) define "domestic alternative fuel" as ethanol that is produced from natural gas and that is used to replace or reduce the quantity of petroleum present in a transportation fuel.

Date: 2013-05-14
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Environmental protection
Geothermal Production Expansion Act of 2013 - Amends competitive lease provisions of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to allow an area of qualified federal land (land that is otherwise available for leasing under that Act) that adjoins other land for which a qualified lessee holds a legal right to develop geothermal resources to be available for a noncompetitive lease to such lessee at fair market value per acre if: (1) the area of qualified federal land consists of not less than one acre and not more than 640 acres and is not already leased or nominated to be leased, (2) the qualified lessee has not previously received a noncompetitive lease in connection with the valid discovery for which data has been submitted, and (3) sufficient technical data prepared by a qualified geothermal professional has been submitted by the qualified lessee to the applicable federal land management agency that would lead individuals who are experienced in the subject matter to believe that there is a valid discovery of geothermal resources on the land and that such thermal feature extends into the adjoining areas.

Defines "fair market value per acre" as a dollar amount per acre that shall be: (1) equal to the market value per acre as determined by the Secretary of the Interior within 180 days after the Secretary receives an application for a lease, and (2) not less than the greater of 4 times the median amount paid per acre for all land leased under such Act during the preceding year or $50.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) publish a notice of any request for such a lease; (2) determine fair market value in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary; (3) provide to a qualified lessee and publish, with an opportunity for public comment for a period of 30 days, any proposed determination of the fair market value of the area the qualified lessee seeks to lease; and (4) provide the lessee and any adversely affected party an opportunity to appeal the final determination of fair market value in an administrative proceeding before the applicable federal land management agency. Prohibits the Secretary from accepting any nomination of land for leasing after publication of a notice of request to lease such land unless the request has been denied or withdrawn.

Date: 2013-05-15
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
State and Local Fleet Efficiency Act - Recognizes state or local government authority to require fleet owners or operators to acquire only new fleet vehicles that: (1) utilize natural gas as a fuel; (2) are flexible fuel vehicles that operate on gasoline, E85, and M85; or (3) meet a technology or performance-based characteristic that is commercially available.

Provides that nothing in this Act or any other provision of law shall limit the purchase requirement authority of a state or local government applicable to fleets operating primarily within the jurisdiction if the requirements further any policy regarding climate change, the control of air pollution, energy independence, or local economic benefits.

Defines "fleet" as a group of 20 or more light-duty motor vehicles, medium-duty motor vehicles, or heavy-duty motor vehicles carrying 14 or more passengers operating primarily in a metropolitan area with a population of more than 250,000 that are: (1) centrally dispatched; or (2) centrally fueled, or capable of being centrally fueled, and owned, operated, leased, or otherwise controlled by a governmental entity or other person meeting specified criteria.

Date: 2013-06-04
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Rural Energy Investment Act of 2013 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 regarding the biobased markets program to: (1) extend program funding through FY2018, (2) increase the number of categories of biobased products designated and individual biobased products eligible for preferred purchasing, and (3) provide for a program of biobased product education and promotion activities.

Amends the Rural Energy for America Program to: (1) extend Program funding through FY2018; (2) make nonprofit organizations eligible for assistance; (3) provide loan guarantees and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy system purchases, with a tiered loan and grant application process that reflects project cost; and (4) permit the combined amount of a grant and a loan guarantee to cover all eligible activity costs.

Extends funding through FY2018 for: (1) biorefinery assistance, (2) the biodiesel fuel education program, (3) biomass research and development, (4) the Rural Energy Self-Sufficiency Initiative, (5) the biomass crop assistance program, (6) the forest biomass for energy program, (7) the community wood energy program, and (8) the feedstock flexibility program for bioenergy producers.

Date: 2013-06-06
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Grants for Renewable Energy Education for the Nation Act or GREEN Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to partnerships of local educational agencies (LEAs), postsecondary institutions, and clean and renewable energy industry representatives to develop programs of study focused on emerging careers and jobs in the fields of clean and renewable energy.

Requires a priority be given to grant applications that: (1) use online learning or other innovative methods to deliver a program of study to individuals outside the partnership, and (2) focus on low-performing students and special populations.

Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to LEAs and postsecondary institutions to promote development of career and technical educational facilities that are energy efficient and use renewable energy practices.

Date: 2013-06-13
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Education
Renewable Chemicals Parity Act of 2013 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to make biorefinery assistance available for renewable chemicals projects.

Defines "renewable chemical" as a monomer, polymer, plastic, formulated product, or chemical substance produced from renewable biomass.

Extends mandatory and discretionary funding for biorefinery assistance through FY2018.

Date: 2013-06-18
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Renewable Energy Parity Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the energy tax credit to solar energy, fuel cell, microturbine, combined heat and power system, small wind energy, and thermal energy properties the construction of which begins before January 1, 2017.

Date: 2013-06-25
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Prioritizing Energy Efficient Renewables Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the tax credit for producing electricity from wind, geothermal and solar energy, hydropower, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities; (2) repeal the tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs for oil and gas wells; (3) repeal the tax deduction for income attributable to the production, refining, transportation, or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any primary product thereof; and (4) repeal the percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas wells.

Date: 2013-06-27
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Biomass Thermal Utilization Act of 2013 or the BTU Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for residential energy efficient property, to make qualified biomass fuel property expenditures eligible for such credit. Defines "qualified biomass fuel property expenditure" as an expenditure for property which uses the burning of biomass fuel (a plant-derived fuel available on a renewable or recurring basis) to heat a dwelling used as a residence, or to heat water for use in such dwelling, and which has a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75%.

Allows an energy tax credit until 2017 for investment in open-loop biomass heating property, including boilers or furnaces which operate at thermal output efficiencies of not less than 65% and provide thermal energy.

Date: 2013-07-17
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
CLEANER Act of 2013 or the Closing Loopholes and Ending Arbitrary and Needless Evasion of Regulations Act of 2013 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act, with respect to the regulation of wastes associated with the exploration, development, or production of crude oil, natural gas, or geothermal energy, to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), within one year, to:

 determine whether drilling fluids, produced waters, and other wastes associated with such activities meet the criteria promulgated for the identification or listing of hazardous waste; identify or list as hazardous waste any of such energy-associated wastes that the Administrator determines meet the identification or listing criteria; and promulgate regulations regarding standards applicable to generators, transporters, and owners and operators of facilities for the treatment, storage, or disposal of wastes described under this Act (except that the Administrator may modify the requirements for such regulations to consider such wastes' special characteristics so long as the requirements protect human health and the environment). Directs the Administrator to promulgate revisions of the criteria regarding sanitary landfills and practices of open dumping for facilities that receive the energy-associated wastes described under this Act not identified as hazardous waste. Requires such revisions to:

 be those necessary to protect human health and the environment, allowing consideration of the practicable capability of such facilities; and include, at minimum, groundwater monitoring as necessary to detect contamination, criteria for the acceptable location of new or existing facilities, and provision for corrective action and financial assurance.

Date: 2013-07-25
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Environmental protection
PTC Certainty and Phaseout Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for production of electricity from wind facilities, to: (1) extend until December 31, 2019, the date by which construction of wind facilities eligible for such credit must begin, and (2) provide for a annual reduction in the percentage rate of such credit between 2015 and 2019.

Date: 2013-08-02
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Renewable Energy Construction and Investment Parity Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the energy tax credit to solar energy, fuel cell, microturbine, combined heat and power system, small wind energy, and thermal energy properties the construction of which begins before January 1, 2017. Requires amounts received from the sale of crude helium under the Helium Act to be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury to compensate for revenue lost resulting from this Act and to reduce the annual federal budget deficit or the public debt.

Date: 2013-08-02
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Fuel Cell Industrial Vehicle Jobs Act of 2013- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a $4,000 new qualified fuel cell motor vehicle tax credit for motor vehicles weighing not more than 8,500 pounds that are manufactured primarily for use in carrying or towing loads or materials for commercial or industrial purposes (off-highway vehicles); (2) continue the maximum dollar amount of $8,000 for motor vehicles with at least 4 wheels weighing not more than 8,500 pounds that are manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads and highways; (3) allow an enhanced credit for light (not more than 8,500 pounds) and heavy (more than 8,500 pounds) vehicles if such vehicles' fuel cell systems achieve a specified electricity generation efficiency rating; and (4) allow a new energy tax credit, through December 31, 2018, for qualified fuel cell property that is manufactured for use in powering qualified motive property. Defines "qualified motive property" as property which is manufactured primarily for carrying loads or materials for commercial or industrial purposes not on public streets, road, highways, or rails or operated primarily for recreational purposes.

Date: 2013-08-02
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Qualifying Renewable Chemical Production Tax Credit Act of 2013 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should encourage the domestic production of renewable chemicals.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for the production of renewable chemicals.  Defines "renewable chemical" as any chemical that is: (1) produced in the United States from renewable biomass; (2) sold or used by the taxpayer for the production of chemical products, polymers, plastics, or as chemicals, polymers, plastics, or formulated products; and (3) not sold or used for the production of any food, feed, or fuel.  Exempts certain chemicals, including those with a biobased content of less than 25%.

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a five-year program to allocate credit amounts. Limits the total amount of allocable credits under such program to $500 million, with a limit of $25 million to any taxpayer in any taxable year.

Date: 2013-09-12
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Converting Methane Into Petroleum Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) include in the tax credit for investment in a qualifying gasification project any qualified methane conversion technology, and (2) allow an alternative fuel excise tax credit for liquid fuel produced through qualified methane conversion technology at a facility the construction of which begins before October 1, 2024. Defines "qualified methane conversion technology" as a process for the molecular conversion of methane into hydrocarbons and the use of such hydrocarbons to replace or reduce the quantity of petroleum present in motor vehicle fuel and for the production of chemicals.

Date: 2013-10-30
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Second Generation Biofuel Extension Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2014: (1) the second generation biofuel producer tax credit, and (2) the depreciation allowance for second generation biofuel plant property.

Date: 2013-12-12
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a new business-related tax credit for sales by an electric utility, prior to January 1, 2020, of renewable electricity generated by a facility using wind or solar energy to a retail customer; and (2) allow payments to such utilities, in lieu of such tax credit, for sales of renewable electricity to retail customers prior to January 1, 2020.

Date: 2014-01-09
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Renewable Fuel Utilization, Expansion, and Leadership Act or the REFUEL Act - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a renewable and alternative energy infrastructure competitive grant program.

Makes eligible for such grants projects that are: (1) for new infrastructure or retrofitting existing infrastructure for the dispensing of covered renewable or alternative energy for retail consumption, and (2) capable of dispensing fuel containing an amount of covered renewable or alternative energy that is higher than ordinarily found in commerce.

Requires that priority be given to projects in rural areas and that entities receiving grants provide at least a 30% match of federal funds.

Dedicates to the grant program 1% of amounts received as royalties for production of oil from oil and gas leases under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Defines "covered renewable or alternative energy" as renewable energy, energy intended for use in electric vehicle charging, and hydrogen and fuel cells.

Date: 2014-02-11
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Clean Energy Victory Bond Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue, and promote the purchase of, Clean Energy Victory Bonds to pay for the energy-related tax benefits extended by this Act.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to:

 extend through 2022 the tax credit for investment in solar energy property, geothermal heat pumps, fuel cell property, microturbine property, combined heat and power system property, and small wind energy property; allow an energy tax credit for investment in offshore wind facilities placed in service before January 1, 2021; extend through 2022 the tax credit for residential energy efficiency improvements; extend through 2022 the placed-in-service requirement for wind facilities and other renewable energy facilities for purposes of the tax credit for producing electricity from renewable resources; extend through 2022 the tax credit for nonbusiness residential energy property; allow a new tax credit, through 2022, for home energy efficiency improvements that increase energy efficiency by at least 20%; extend through 2022 the tax credit for new energy efficient homes; and increase, and extend through 2022, the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings. Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a voluntary voucher program, through 2017, for the purchase of plug-in electric vehicles.

Date: 2014-04-08
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Electric Credit Access Ready at Sale Act of 2014 or the Electric CARS Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the maximum amount of the tax credit for new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles to $7,500 and to extend the termination date of such credit to December 31, 2020. Permits the credit to be assigned to the sellers of such vehicles.

Date: 2014-05-06
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Electric Vehicle Charging Offers Modern Utility Terminals for Employees Act or the EV-COMUTE Act - Authorizes the head of any federal agency that owns or operates a parking area for use by agency employees to: (1) install, construct, operate, and maintain on a reimbursable basis a battery recharging station in such parking area for the use of privately-owned employee vehicles; and (2) charge a user fee to cover the costs of such station.

Date: 2014-05-09
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Infrastructure Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property expenditures, to: (1) increase the rate of such credit from 30% to 50% for hydrogen-related alternative fuel vehicles, (2) eliminate the dollar limitation on such credit for hydrogen-related vehicles, (3) allow such credit for off-highway motor vehicles designed for carrying or towing loads, and (4) extend such credit through 2016 for property related to hydrogen.

Increases the 30% energy tax credit for investment in fuel cell property to: (1) 50% for fuel cell property used in a combined heat and power system having an energy efficiency percentage of 70% or more, and (2) 40% for fuel cell property having an energy efficiency percentage of at least 60% but less than 70%.

Date: 2014-05-22
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Investing to Modernize the Production of American Clean Energy and Technology Act of 2014 or the IMPACT Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to alternative and renewable energy tax provisions, to: (1) extend through 2023 the placed-in-service dates for the tax credit for producing electricity from wind, biomass, geothermal or solar energy, landfill gas, hydropower, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities; (2) extend through 2023 the election of the tax credit for investment in energy property in lieu of the tax credit for producing electricity from renewable resources; (3) authorize an additional allocation of credits under the qualifying advanced energy program; and (4) extend through 2016 the tax credits for energy-efficient new home expenditures and for energy-efficient appliances.

Increases or extends tax credits for qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles, heavy natural gas vehicles, and alternative fuel vehicle refueling property. Provides for tax-exempt financing of electric, natural gas, and hydrogen vehicle refueling property.

Repeals or imposes limits on tax preferences for major integrated oil companies (i.e., companies that have an average daily worldwide production of at least 500,000 barrels and annual gross income over $1 billion), including the tax deduction for income attributable to oil, natural gas, or primary products thereof, the tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs, the percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas wells, the tax deduction for tertiary injectants, and the foreign tax credit for dual capacity taxpayers.

Prohibits the use of the last-in, first-out (LIFO) accounting method by major integrated oil companies.

Date: 2014-05-28
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Rural Wind Energy Expansion Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the energy tax credit, to revise the definition of "qualified small wind energy property" to include property which uses 1 or more wind turbines with an aggregate nameplate capacity of more than 100 kilowatts but not more than 20 megawatts.

Date: 2014-05-29
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Phantom Fuels Elimination Act of 2014 - Amends the Clean Air Act to revise the renewable fuel program by requiring advanced biofuel, biomass-based diesel, and cellulosic biofuel to be produced in the United States.

Directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for any year in which the projected volume of advanced biofuel and biomass-based diesel production is less than the applicable volume standard established under the program, to reduce the volume of advanced biofuel and biomass-based diesel required to be blended into transportation fuel to the projected volume available for that year.

Directs the Energy Information Administration to provide the EPA an estimate, with respect to the following year, of the volumes of advanced biofuel projected to be sold or introduced into commerce.

Eliminates the volume standards under the program applicable to corn-starch ethanol.

Date: 2014-06-12
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Environmental protection
Access to Consumer Energy Information Act or E-Access Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to encourage and support the adoption of policies that allow electricity consumers access to their own electricity data.

 Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to authorize state energy conservation plans to include programs that: (1) enhance consumer access to, and understanding of, energy usage and price information, including consumers' own residential and commercial electricity information; and (2) allow for development and adoption of innovative products and services to assist consumers in managing energy consumption and expenditures.

Directs the Secretary to issue voluntary guidelines, meeting specified criteria, which establish model standards to implement retail electric energy information access in states.

Authorizes states to submit to the Secretary a description of their data sharing policies regarding consumer access to electric energy information for DOE certification that they meet such voluntary guidelines.

Directs the Secretary, subject to appropriations, to make federal funds available to any DOE-certified state to assist it in implementing its energy conservation plan.

Date: 2014-07-10
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2014 - Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to require the program of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy technology research, development, demonstration, and commercial application to: (1) apply advanced systems engineering and system integration methods to identify critical interfaces and develop open standards for such renewable energy; (2) transfer the resulting environmental data to industry stakeholders as public information through published interface definitions, standards, and demonstration projects; and (3) develop incentives for industry to comply with the standards.

Requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to award grants to support modifying or constructing four or more geographically dispersed marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy technology research, development, and demonstration test facilities for the demonstration of multiple technologies in actual operating environments. Requires DOE to give preference to existing facilities and National Marine Renewable Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Centers.

Renames the Centers as the "National Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Centers" and expands their research and clearinghouse duties to include hydrokinetic energy. Authorizes the Centers to serve as technology test facilities.

Requires DOE to establish a marine-based energy device verification program to provide a bridge from marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy capture device design and development efforts to commercial deployment.

Requires DOE to establish a grant program to advance the development of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy and associated devises and technologies.

Authorizes appropriations for the marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies program through FY2016.

Date: 2014-07-31
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Empowering Our Veterans Act of 2014 - Prohibits the appropriation of funds, or the obligation or expenditure of funds by Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), for any VA alternative energy generation project unless the funds for such project have been specifically authorized by law.

Directs the Secretary to transfer all unobligated funds that were appropriated to the VA before this Act's enactment for an alternative energy generation project to the VA's account funding veterans' medical care.

Date: 2014-09-16
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Electric Charging Advancement Reform Act or the E-Car Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace the tax credit for qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling property expenditures with a tax credit for 50% of the cost of any qualified electric vehicle recharging property that is: (1) installed on property used as the principal residence of the taxpayer, and (2) for the recharging of motor vehicles propelled by electricity. Terminates such credit after December 31, 2017.

Date: 2014-09-17
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Consortia-Led Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Networks Act - Directs the Department of Commerce to carry out a program to establish clean technology consortia to enhance U.S. economic, environmental, and energy security by promoting domestic development, manufacture, and deployment of clean technologies, production processes, or methodologies that:

 produce energy from renewable energy sources; transmit, distribute, or store energy more efficiently; enhance energy efficiency for buildings and industry; enable the development of a Smart Grid (an electric power system to maintain a reliable and secure electricity infrastructure that can meet future demand growth, including by deploying demand-side resources that enable consumers to reduce or shift their electricity usage during peak periods); produce an advanced or sustainable material with energy or energy efficiency applications; improve energy efficiency for transportation, including electric vehicles; or enhance water security through improved water management, conservation, distribution, or end use applications. Requires Commerce to award grants for the establishment and operation of consortia.

Establishes the role of consortia, including promoting new innovative clean technologies, providing technical or financial assistance, and accelerating investment in and deployment of clean technologies through public-private partnerships.

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Commerce
Sustainable Energy Act - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to reduce or eliminate royalty payments for oil and natural gas leases in the Outer Continental Shelf.

 Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to increase minimum royalty payments for coal, oil, and natural gas leases.

Repeals the program for ultra-deepwater and unconventional natural gas and other petroleum resource exploration and production.

Amends the Oil Pollution Act to eliminate the limitation on liability for offshore facilities and pipeline operators for oil spills.

Rescinds all unobligated balances made available to the World Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the Export-Import Bank, the Advanced Research Projects Agency in the Department of Energy (DOE), and other international financing entities to carry out any project that supports coal, oil, or natural gas.

Terminates the Office of Fossil Energy Research and Development in DOE and the authority to carry out any of its programs.

Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to eliminate from the categories of projects eligible for loan guarantees for innovative technologies: (1) projects involving advanced fossil energy technology, and (2) and crude oil refineries.

Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from making loans under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to carry out projects that will use coal, oil, or natural gas.

Prohibits the use of Department of Transportation (DOT) funds to award any grant or other direct assistance to any rail or port project that transports coal, oil, or natural gas.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) limit or repeal provisions allowing tax incentives for investment in fossil fuels; (2) extend, through 2020, tax incentives for the production of electricity from renewable resources and the energy tax credit for alternative energy sources; and (3) extend, for a five-year period, allocations of the advanced energy project tax credit.

Increases the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund financing rate.

Imposes a 13% tax on the removal price of any taxable crude oil or natural gas from the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico.

Designates the Powder River Basin in southeast Montana and northeast Wyoming as a coal producing region. Eliminates accelerated depreciation for property that is receiving a subsidy for fossil fuel production.

Date: 2013-02-14
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Geothermal Exploration and Technology Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to: (1) establish a direct loan program for high risk geothermal exploration wells, and (2) give preference to loans to carry out projects that are likely to lead to successful new geothermal development leading to electricity production. Requires data from exploratory wells to be provided to the DOE Secretary (Secretary) and the Secretary of the Interior for use in mapping national geothermal resources and other uses, including subsurface geologic data, metadata, borehole temperature data, and inclusion in DOE's National Geothermal Data System. Requires the Secretary to determine the number of wells for each selected geothermal project for which a loan may be made. Requires: (1) a recipient to commence repayment of the loan beginning on the earlier of four years after the loan is made or when the geothermal facility enters into commercial production, and (2) loans for successful wells to be repaid by the developer within 10 years.

Establishes the Geothermal Investment Fund to carry out such program. Requires amounts repaid on loans to be deposited in such Fund.

Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to require: the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to: (1) establish a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for geothermal heat pumps and the direct use of geothermal energy; (2) identify and mitigate potential environmental impacts; (3) make grants to promote the development of geothermal heat pumps and the direct use of geothermal energy; (4) give priority to proposals that apply to large buildings, commercial districts, and residential communities; and (5) conduct a national solicitation for grant applications.

Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to provide that land under an oil and gas lease issued pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act or the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands that is subject to an approved application for a permit to drill and from which oil and gas production is occurring may be available for leasing for geothermal drilling in order to provide for the coproduction of geothermal energy with oil and gas, if the lease would serve the public interest.

Date: 2013-02-14
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on July 9, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Geothermal Production Expansion Act of 2013 - Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to allow the Department of the Interior to award noncompetitive leases on up to 640 acres of federal land for geothermal development if: (1) the land is available for leasing and not already leased or nominated to be leased, (2) the lessee has a legal right to develop geothermal resources on land adjacent to the federal land that will be leased, (3) sufficient data was submitted to Interior to show there is a valid discovery of geothermal resources on the adjacent land and that the thermal feature extends into the adjoining federal land, and (4) the lessee has not previously received a noncompetitive lease for the discovery.

Requires Interior to lease the land at fair market value, publish a notice of any lease requests, and provide review of the final determination of fair market value.

 Requires lessees to make annual rental payments equal to those required for lands that are leased competitively.

Date: 2013-02-14
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Changing How America Reduces Greenhouse Emissions (CHARGE) Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax credit for new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles to include vehicles that are powered by an alternative electrical energy storage device other than a battery.

Date: 2013-05-08
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
North American Alternative Fuels Act - Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to repeal the requirement that any federal agency procurement contract for an alternative or synthetic fuel, including those from nonconventional petroleum sources, for any mobility-related use (except research or testing) specify that lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with the fuel must, on an ongoing basis, be less than or equal to such emissions from equivalent conventional fuel produced from conventional petroleum sources.

Date: 2013-06-06
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Renewable Fuel Standard Repeal Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to repeal the renewable fuel standard.

Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to repeal a requirement that the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assess and report to Congress on the impact of the renewable fuel program on environmental issues, resource conservation issues, and the growth and use of cultivated invasive or noxious plants and their impact on the environment and agriculture.

Date: 2013-06-20
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Environmental protection
State Energy Race to the Top Initiative Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to establish a voluntary electric and thermal energy productivity challenge grant program to provide support to no more than 25 states for: (1) expanding industrial energy efficiency, combined heat and power, and waste heat-to-power utilization; (2) expanding policies and programs that will advance energy efficiency retrofits for commercial buildings, schools, hospitals, and residential buildings through expanded energy service performance contracts, zero net-energy buildings, or improved building energy efficiency codes; (3) establishing or expanding incentives in the electric utility sector to enhance demand response and energy efficiency; and (4) supporting state activities involving both facilities and vehicle fleets than can be a model for other action to promote energy efficiency.

Requires a state to submit to the Secretary a revised state energy conservation plan under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act in order to receive a grant.

Authorizes the Secretary to provide grants to no more than six states to provide additional funds for activities to assist energy policy innovation in the states and to promote the goal of doubling electric and thermal energy productivity by January 1, 2030.

Authorizes grants to be given to public power utilities, electric cooperatives, and Indian tribes.

Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to revoke the authorization of appropriations for FY2014-FY2017 for the Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative.

Date: 2013-06-20
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
State Energy Race to the Top Initiative Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to establish a voluntary electric and thermal energy productivity challenge grant program to provide support to no more than 25 states for: (1) expanding industrial energy efficiency, combined heat and power, and waste heat-to-power utilization; (2) expanding policies and programs that will advance energy efficiency retrofits for commercial buildings, schools, hospitals, and residential buildings through expanded energy service performance contracts, zero net-energy buildings, or improved building energy efficiency codes; (3) establishing or expanding incentives in the electric utility sector to enhance demand response and energy efficiency; and (4) supporting state activities involving both facilities and vehicle fleets than can be a model for other action to promote energy efficiency.

Requires a state to submit to the Secretary a revised state energy conservation plan under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act in order to receive a grant.

Authorizes the Secretary to provide grants to no more than six states to provide additional funds for activities to assist energy policy innovation in the states and to promote the goal of doubling electric and thermal energy productivity by January 1, 2030.

Authorizes grants to be given to public power utilities, electric cooperatives, and Indian tribes.

Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reduce the authorized amount of appropriations for FY2014-FY2017 for the Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative.

Date: 2013-06-25
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Solar Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) expand the definitions of "qualified solar electric property expenditure" and "qualified solar water heating property expenditure" to allow a residential energy efficient property tax credit for solar energy property which is either installed in a taxpayer's residence or is located within 50 miles of such residence; and (2) exclude from gross income, for income tax purposes, gain from the sale or exchange of electricity generated by solar energy property eligible for such tax credit.

Date: 2013-06-26
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation