zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Streamline Vehicle Conversions Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to provide that a certificate of conformity issued by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for one or more aftermarket conversion test groups with respect to an aftermarket conversion system (i.e., hardware installed on a light-duty or heavy-duty vehicle, light-duty truck, or heavy-duty engine that allows the vehicle or engine to operate on a fuel other than that which it was originally certified to use) shall not expire, shall continue to apply in subsequent calendar years, and shall not require recertification. Requires the Administrator to: (1) establish criteria for use in identifying similar vehicle makes, models, original equipment manufacturers, emission standards, and different model years that may be used under a single test group; (2) accept such an established test group on an aftermarket conversion system manufacturer application for a certificate of conformity; and (3) allow the submission of previous vehicle emission test data for the certification of additional model year vehicles if the aftermarket conversion system manufacturer is able to demonstrate that neither the aftermarket conversion system nor the design and specifications of the applicable vehicle model are substantially different. Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations regarding on-board diagnostic systems for aftermarket conversion systems that: (1) ensure that such conversion systems that are equipped with on-board diagnostic systems are effective at monitoring critical emission components; (2) take into account the inability of an aftermarket conversion system manufacturer to access proprietary on-board diagnostic technology of an original equipment manufacturer; and (3) are sufficiently flexible to encourage the increased use of alternative fueled vehicles. Sets forth provisions regarding the conversion of a vehicle outside of its useful life cycle.

Date: 2009-10-20
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Environmental protection
Solar Manufacturing Jobs Creation Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a 30% energy tax credit for equipment used to fabricate solar energy property. Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 to allow grants in lieu of energy tax credits for equipment used to fabricate solar energy property.

Date: 2009-11-09
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Clean Renewable Energy Advancement Tax Extension Jobs Act of 2009 or the CREATE Jobs Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend through 2016 the tax credit for producing electricity from wind and open-loop biomass facilities; (2) increase the limitation on the issuance of new clean renewable energy bonds; and (3) extend through 2011 the additional depreciation allowance for certain business assets acquired after 2007.

Date: 2009-12-03
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Renewable Energy Incentive Act - Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to: (1) extend through 2012 grants for investment in renewable energy property, including renewable resources used to produce electricity and fuel cell, solar, wind, geothermal, and microturbine property, in lieu of tax credits; and (2) expand eligibility for such grants to public power utilities and qualified solar manufacturing project property. Defines "qualified solar manufacturing property" as any tangible personal property purchased to re-equip, expand, or establish a manufacturing facility for producing solar energy equipment to generate electricity. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow an energy tax credit for investment in qualified solar manufacturing project property; (2) allow a tax credit for the purchase, consolidation, and use of contiguous high solarity disturbed private land to produce solar energy for use in a trade or business; and (3) limit the energy tax credit for solar energy equipment used to generate electricity or heat or cool a structure, as applied to swimming pools, to exclude those located at single-family residences.

Date: 2009-12-17
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Green Communities Act of 2009 [sic] - Directs the Secretary of Commerce, through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, to make grants to eligible municipalities to carry out community greening initiatives. Defines such an initiative as a program that increases economic development by improving the environment and that may include: (1) revitalizing municipal parks and public spaces; (2) landscaping community gateways and key corridors; (3) tree plantings and urban forestry projects; (4) comprehensive planning for open space preservation; (5) education, training, and volunteer management concerning community green initiatives; (6) green roof construction; (7) green stormwater infrastructure; and (8) vacant lot management. Defines an "eligible municipality" as a municipality that meets criteria for an economic adjustment grant under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965. Directs the Secretary to select 80 eligible municipalities to receive grants. Requires an eligible municipality seeking a grant to agree to make available nonfederal funds to carry out the initiative in an amount equal to not less than 50% of the grant awarded. Directs the Secretary to make grants to, or enter into contracts with, five nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and training to municipalities receiving grants.

Date: 2010-03-01
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax credits through 2019 for investment in an offshore facility using wind to produce electricity. Defines "offshore facility" to mean any facility located in the inland navigable waters of the United States, including the Great Lakes, or in the coastal waters of the United States, including the territorial seas, exclusive economic zone, and the outer Continental Shelf of the United States.

Date: 2010-03-03
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Deepwater Offshore Wind Incentive Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a general business tax credit for the production of energy from a deep water offshore wind facility. Makes such credit equal to the product of 3.04 cents and the kilowatt hours of electricity produced at a facility during a 10-year period and sold by a taxpayer to an unrelated person during the taxable year. Defines "deep water offshore wind facility" as facility that uses wind to produce electricity, operates in 60 meters or more of water, is located within the internal or territorial waters of the United States, and is placed in service after the enactment of this Act and before January 1, 2030.

Date: 2010-03-03
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Grow Renewable Energy from Ethanol Naturally Jobs Act of 2010 or the GREEN Jobs Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2015 the income and excise tax credits for alcohol used as fuel, the cellulosic biofuel producer tax credit, and the reduced credit for ethanol blenders. Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend until 2016 the additional tariff on ethyl alcohol blends (ethanol) used as fuel.

Date: 2010-04-20
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Improving Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Use By Federal Agencies Act of 2010 - Authorizes the head of each executive agency to establish projects under which an agency head may offer to enter into cost-effective power purchase agreements, during a 10-year period beginning on the date of this Act's enactment, for the purchase of electricity from renewable energy sources from federal facilities that are owned or controlled by the agency. Limits the term of the agreements to 30 years. Authorizes agencies to enter into interagency agreements as part of power purchase agreements. Establishes in the Treasury the Federal Facility Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Projects Fund from which the Secretary of Energy (DOE) shall provide assistance for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects carried out at federal facilities. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish a federal facility energy efficiency and renewable energy projects fund program under which the Secretary shall make loans to assist agencies in reducing energy use; (2) promulgate regulations that enable agencies to retain the financial savings that result from entering into utility energy saving contracts; (3) promulgate regulations that establish appropriate methods and procedures for agencies to identify all potential locations at their facilities for renewable energy projects; (4) issue guidance for agencies to employ advanced tools allowing energy savings through the use of computer hardware, energy efficiency software, and power management tools; and (5) issue guidance on a federal energy management and data collection standard that includes a plan for the General Services Administration (GSA) to publish energy consumption data for individual facilities on a searchable website accessible by the public. Requires agencies to submit annual plans on metering their consumption of electricity. Requires the Secretary to develop and report on best practices for the use of advanced metering of energy use in federal facilities, buildings, and equipment by federal agencies. Authorizes the Administrator of GSA to use appropriated funds to update project designs to meet federal building energy efficiency standards. Requires the Administrator and the Secretary to incorporate commissioning and recommissioning standards for all real property that: (1) is more than $10 million in value; (2) has more than 50,000 square feet; or (3) has energy intensity of more than $2 per square foot. Requires a contribution by the Secretary of Defense to a state for facilities for reserve components of the Armed Forces that is made at an armory or readiness center for an energy efficiency upgrade to cover 100% of the costs of architectural, engineering, and design services and the cost of the construction related to the upgrade.

Date: 2010-04-22
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Cleanfields Act - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, as it would be amended by the American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009 as reported to the Senate as an original measure on July 16, 2009 (S.1462), to: (1) define "brownfield site generation facility," for purposes of provisions concerning the Federal Renewable Electricity Standard, as a facility that generates renewable electricity from wind energy, solar energy, or geothermal energy and that occupies a brownfield site; and (2) require the Secretary of Energy to allow triple credits under the federal renewable energy credit trading program for the generation of energy from brownfield site generation facilities. Limits the amount of total renewable electricity generation that is eligible for consideration for the triple credit multiplier for brownfields to 1%. Requires the Secretary to submit to Congress recommendations on whether such limitation should be revised.

Date: 2010-05-07
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Private Activity Renewable Energy Bonds Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the purposes for which tax-exempt facility bonds may be issued to include renewable energy resource facilities, conservation and efficiency facilities and projects, and high efficiency vehicles and related facilities or projects. Limits the allocation of such bonds to all states by population to not more than $2.5 billion annually.

Date: 2010-05-11
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Renewable Energy Market Access Program Act - Directs the Under Secretary for International Trade of the Department of Commerce to establish and carry out a program to provide cost-sharing assistance to nonprofit trade associations in the United States or state or regional organizations that promote the exportation and sale of energy efficiency products or renewable energy products to: (1) improve access to the markets of foreign countries for energy efficiency products and renewable energy products exported by small- and medium-sized U.S. businesses; and (2) assist such businesses in obtaining services and other assistance, including from the Department of Commerce and other federal agencies, with respect to exporting such products.

Date: 2010-05-20
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Commerce
Renewable Energy Access Through Leasing Act of 2010 or the REAL Act of 2010- Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make loan guarantees for the financing of renewable energy systems leased for residential use. Prohibits the Secretary from insuring a loan unless the renewable energy system owner certifies that the systems financed will be leased only to homeowners that grant easements to install, maintain, use and otherwise access the system that include the right to sell electricity produced during the life of the renewable energy system to a wholesale or retail electrical power grid. Requires the Secretary to: (1) ensure that a discount given under this Act does not adversely affect the homeowner's mortgage requirements; and (2) fix and collect premiums for insurance of loans under this Act that shall be paid for by the renewable energy system owner and that shall be adequate to cover the expenses and probable losses of administering the program. Prohibits the Secretary from assessing any other fee, premium, or charge in connection with such loan insurance. Establishes the Renewable Energy Lease Insurance Fund, into which the Secretary shall deposit any such premiums. Terminates the Secretary's authority to insure and make commitments to insure new loans under this Act ten years after its enactment.

Date: 2010-05-24
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Housing and community development
Emergency Biodiesel Tax Incentive Extension Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2010 the income tax credit for biodiesel and renewable diesel used as fuel and the excise tax credit for biodiesel fuel mixtures.

Date: 2010-05-27
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Global Conservation Act of 2010 - Directs the President to: (1) designate a Special Coordinator for Global Conservation; (2) through the Special Coordinator establish the International Conservation Strategy to help combat global natural resource and biodiversity degradation in developing countries; and (3) establish the President's Advisory Committee for Global Conservation. Directs the Coordinator to establish the Interagency Working Group on Global Conservation. Urges the President to work with the world's major foreign assistance donor countries to: (1) develop an international conservation assistance strategy; (2) identify multilateral coordinating mechanisms; and (3) promote existing multilateral initiatives designed to identify meaningful levels of interim funding for forest conservation in developing countries. Requires the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to submit to Congress a national intelligence estimate on the anticipated geopolitical and regional security effects of the global degradation of renewable natural resources and the implications of such effects for U.S. national and economic security.

Date: 2010-06-17
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: International affairs
Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act of 2010 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide competitive grants to eligible higher education institutions and research institutions to establish and maintain between three and five centers of excellence for green infrastructure. Defines "green infrastructure" as a stormwater management technique that preserves, restores, enhances, or mimics natural hydrology. Establishes the duties of each center, including: (1) researching green infrastructure; (2) developing manuals and establishing industry standards on best management practices relating to state, tribal, local, and commercial green infrastructure; (3) providing information about its research and manuals to the national electronic clearinghouse center; (4) providing technical assistance and training on green infrastructure; and (5) evaluating regulatory and policy issues relating to green infrastructure. Requires one of the centers to be designated as the national electronic clearinghouse center, which shall, in addition to its other duties, operate a website and a public database on green infrastructure. Requires the Administrator to provide competitive grants to eligible entities that manage stormwater, water resources, or waste water resources to: (1) plan and design and install green infrastructure projects; (2) develop standards and revisions to local zoning, building, or other local codes necessary to accommodate such projects; (3) develop fee structures to provide financial support for green infrastructure; (4) develop training and educational materials regarding green infrastructure; (5) develop and implement a green infrastructure portfolio standard program; (6) protect or restore interconnected networks of natural areas that protect water quality; (7) monitor and evaluate the environmental, economic, or social benefits of green infrastructure; and (8) implement a best practices standard for a green infrastructure program. Requires the Administrator to give priority to applications from: (1) a community that has combined storm and sanitary sewers in its collection system or is low-income or disadvantaged; or (2) an eligible entity that will use at least 10% of the grant for a low-income or disadvantaged community. Requires the Administrator to: (1) establish within EPA's Office of Water a green infrastructure program to coordinate and promote the use of green infrastructure and to integrate green infrastructure into permitting programs; (2) direct each EPA regional office to develop a program to promote and integrate the use of green infrastructure within the region; (3) establish a green infrastructure compliance assistance center; and (4) establish measurable goals, to be known as the green infrastructure portfolio standard, to increase the percentage of annual water managed by eligible entities that uses green infrastructure.

Date: 2010-06-30
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Environmental protection
Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to require the Secretary of Energy (DOE): (1) acting through the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, to establish a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for geothermal heat pumps and the direct use of geothermal energy; and (2) identify and mitigate potential environmental impacts. Directs the Secretary to: (1) make grants to state and local governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofit entities, utilities, and for-profit companies to promote the development of geothermal heat pumps and the direct use of geothermal energy; (2) give priority to proposals that apply to large buildings, commercial districts, and residential communities; and (3) conduct a national solicitation for grant applications.

Date: 2010-07-20
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Thermal Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the tax credit for the production of electricity from renewable resources to the production of thermal energy and to include a naturally occurring cold water source as a qualified energy resource and a natural air conditioning system facility as a qualified facility for purposes of such credit. Modifies the definition of "local heating and cooling facilities" for purposes of tax-exempt facility bonds to include equipment for producing thermal energy in the form of hot water, chilled water, or steam, distributing that thermal energy in pipelines, and transferring the thermal energy. Defines "thermal energy" as heat (in the form of hot water or steam) or cooling (in the form of chilled water or ice). Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, with respect to the energy sustainability and efficiency grant and loan program for institutions, to: (1) include a not-for-profit district energy system as an institutional entity for purposes of such grant program; (2) increase the amounts of technical assistance grants and grants for efficiency improvement and energy sustainability; and (3) extend the authorization of appropriations for such grant program through FY2015.

Date: 2010-07-21
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Clean Energy Works Act - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to set forth provisions governing the allocation of funds for assisting states in the development, implementation, or modification of energy conservation plans. Requires a state that receives such assistance to use no less than a third of it to provide grants and loans: (1) for renewable energy development; (2) to energy technology companies; or (3) to promote energy efficiency. Sets forth state cost-sharing requirements. Authorizes appropriations for such assistance for FY2011-FY2016. Amends the America COMPETES Act to: (1) revise provisions concerning the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), including by creating additional duties of the Director of ARPA-E; and (2) increase and extend authorization for ARPA-E for FY2011-FY2016. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to award on a competitive basis: (1) regional energy alliance skills grants to energy alliances; (2) regional industry energy efficiency grants to covered entities for educating and training incumbent workers in the skills necessary to increase energy efficiency in industries in existence on this Act's enactment; and (3) law carbon energy training grants to eligible entities to provide customized training services to businesses in identified industries, or to businesses in industries that directly support or supply identified industries. Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to prohibit, as of October 1, 2010, provisions of such Act that are otherwise applicable to the use of the authority made available under the Federal Columbia River Transmission System Act from applying to borrowing authority available to the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to assist in financing the construction, acquisition, and replacement of the BPA transmission system and implementing the BPA Administrator's authority under the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act.

Date: 2010-07-22
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
PACE Assessment Protection Act of 2010 - Directs the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) to adopt underwriting standards that are consistent with the Guidelines for Pilot PACE Financing Programs issued on May 7, 2010, by the Department of Energy (DOE). Provides that liens or other property obligations that secure property taxes or assessments under a PACE program and that are consistent with such standards shall be considered to comply with the Uniform Instruments of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and shall not constitute a default on an existing mortgage or trigger the exercise of lender's remedies for a property with such a lien. Defines a "PACE program" as a property assessed clean energy program under which a state or political subdivision levies taxes or assessments on real property to finance the installation of renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements. Prohibits Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from requiring repayment of a PACE program tax or assessment in order for a property owner to finance, refinance, or transfer property that meets their underwriting criteria without consideration of the PACE program lien. Requires the underwriting standards to provide that, in the event that a tax or assessment under a PACE program is delinquent, only the unpaid delinquent amount along with applicable penalties, interest, and costs will be subject to foreclosure and not the entire amount. Prohibits the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and all federal agencies and entities chartered under federal law from discriminating against communities implementing or participating in a PACE program.

Date: 2010-07-22
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Housing and community development
Charging America Forward Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend through 2014 the tax credit for purchasing a new qualified hybrid motor vehicle, increase the the amount of such credit for certain hybrid and heavy vehicles, and provide for the transferability of such credit; (2) increase and extend through 2014 the tax credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property; (3) make refundable and provide for the transferability of the tax credit for new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles; (4) allow accelerated depreciation of smart meters and smart grid systems; (5) allow a 50% tax credit for investment in qualified used energy storage property (30% for energy storage property used for onsite storage); and (6) allow a nonbusiness energy tax credit for qualified used energy storage property. Defines "qualified used energy storage property" as property comprised of pre-owned advanced large format automotive propulsion battery cells previously used in a qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle which are reconditioned into: (1) property that is designed to receive and store electrical energy, convert it to electricity, and to deliver such electricity for support to the transmission or distribution grid or for sale to unrelated parties and that has the ability to store 50 kilowatt hours of energy or to attain a peak power output of 20 kilowatts; or (2) property that is primarily designed and used to receive and store intermittent renewable energy generated on-site and to deliver such energy for primarily on-site consumption, or which provides supplemental energy to reduce peak energy requirements on-site, and that has the ability to store the energy equivalent of 20 kilowatt hours of energy and to maintain an output of the energy equivalent of 5 kilowatt hours of electricity for 4 hours. .

Date: 2010-08-05
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Clean Energy Technology Leadership Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase and extend through 2014 the tax credit for investment in a qualifying advanced energy project; (2) increase and extend the tax credit for energy-efficient appliances; (3) allow an enhanced tax deduction between 2011 and 2014 for income attributable to the domestic production of advanced alternative energy technology; (4) allow an elective payment for certain energy property placed in service before January 1, 2013; (5) increase the amount of the national limitation on the issuance of new clean renewable energy bonds; (6) increase in 2011 and 2012 the tax credit for energy research expenses; (7) extend through 2012 the tax credits for new energy efficient homes and the nonbusiness energy credit; (8) increase the rate of the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial building property installed on or in a certified historic structure; (9) allow a new tax credit for qualified natural gas motor vehicles; (10) allow the issuance of tax-exempt natural gas vehicle bonds; (11) allow expensing of the cost of any qualified natural gas vehicle manufacturing facility property; (12) extend through 2012 the parity provisions for transit and parking transportation fringe benefits; (13) extend the tax deduction for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property expenditures; (14) extend through 2012 the income and excise tax credits for biodiesel and renewable diesel; and (15) include within the definition of "cellulosic biofuel," for purposes of the income tax credit for alcohol used as fuel, algae-based biofuel. Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress by January 1, 2013, evaluating all temporary and permanent energy tax incentives in effect on the date of the report.

Date: 2010-08-05
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Upstate Works Act - Amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to: (1) direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program to provide grants to states to establish revolving loan funds to provide loans to small and medium-sized manufacturers to finance the cost of reequipping, expanding, or establishing manufacturing facilities in the United States to produce clean energy technology and energy efficient products or of reducing the energy intensity or greenhouse gas production of a manufacturing facility; and (2) include as an activity of Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology (known as the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Centers) the establishment of a clean energy manufacturing supply chain initiative. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a 50% tax credit for investment in value-added agricultural property; (2) allow a credit for 50% of the cost of property used to furnish broadband services in rural areas; (3) extend through 2019 the period for designation of empowerment zones and renewal communities; (4) expand the eligibility criteria for enterprise zone businesses and the use of tax-exempt enterprise facility bonds; and (5) authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to award grants to state or local governments or nonprofit entities for the purpose of making businesses aware of benefits of empowerment zones and renewal communities. Directs the Secretary of Labor to award grants to improve job skills necessary for employment in specific industries.

Date: 2010-09-15
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Commerce
Geothermal Energy Investment Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow through 2016 a 30% energy tax credit for investment in geothermal energy property.

Date: 2010-09-15
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Clean Renewable Energy Investment Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to tax-exempt new clean renewable energy bonds, to: (1) repeal the national limitation amount for such bonds; (2) allow such unlimited bonds to be issued until January 1, 2014; (3) eliminate the eligibility of governmental bodies for new clean renewable energy bond financing; (4) designate a tribal utility as a clean renewable energy bond lender; and (5) provide that any reimbursements with the proceeds of new clean renewable energy bonds are subject to reimbursement rules applicable to all tax-exempt bonds.

Date: 2010-09-28
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to alternative fuel vehicle refueling property, to: (1) increase and extend the tax credit for such property through 2014; (2) expand such credit to include the installation of refueling devices (e.g., chargers or compressors); (3) permit property eligible for such credit to be placed in service with respect to two or more dwelling units; and (4) expand the definition of "qualified clean-fuel vehicle refueling property" for purposes of the tax deduction for clean-fuel vehicles and certain refueling property.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Geothermal Production Expansion Act of 2010 - 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 90 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 any proposed determination of the fair market value of the area the qualified lessee seeks to lease; and (4) provide the lessee and the public an opportunity to appeal a proposed determination during the 30-day period after the determination is provided or published, respectively. 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: 2010-12-01
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
21st Century Energy Independence Act of 2011 - Instructs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to seek to ensure: (1) the availability of 200% of the volume of renewable fuels required to be available in the United States by 2013 under the Energy Policy Act of 2005; and (2) the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from the production and use of renewable fuels by 25%. Directs the Secretary to establish a loan guarantee program for up to 80% of the cost of a project for: (1) the harvesting, storing, and delivery of agriculture residues for use in cellulosic or traditional ethanol production plants; (2) cellulosic ethanol production technologies that will reduce the initial capital cost to $2.50 per annual gallon, and operation and maintenance costs to 125% of those at traditional corn ethanol plants; (3) advanced biomass gasifiers that can provide specified thermal input requirements for traditional ethanol plants to produce syngas; and (4) scaled catalytic conversion projects to convert syngas to liquid fuels. Permits such loan guarantees for: (1) a traditional ethanol plant only if the agriculture residue products are used as feedstock to replace thermal input requirements otherwise provided by fossil fuels; and (2) an existing ethanol plant only if the applicant demonstrates the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions related to ethanol production by at least 75%. Authorizes the Secretary to provide grants for up to 50% of the capital costs of the initial commercialization for certain cellulosic ethanol production technologies.

Date: 2011-01-07
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Clean Vehicles for Cleaner Air Act of 2011 -  Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain businesses located in areas designated as nonattainment areas under the Clean Air Act a general business tax credit for the cost of certain clean-fuel vehicle property and the use of clean-burning fuel. Allows the credit to be taken against regular and alternative minimum tax liabilities. Allows a tax deduction for any unused clean fuel credit amounts. Allows a tax credit for the cost of hybrid vehicles placed in service in, and of which substantially all of the use occurs in, nonattainment areas.

Date: 2011-01-07
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) establish a program to provide zero-interest loans to covered institutions (i.e., an institution of higher education, an elementary or secondary school, or a hospital) for capital costs for converting to the use of biomass for energy generation; and (2) ensure that an institution receiving such a loan will use woody biomass for not less than 75% of the energy generation resulting from such conversion. Establishes in the Treasury a revolving fund for such program. Requires the Secretary to: (1) deposit amounts received as payment on loans provided under such program into such revolving fund; and (2) make available $100 million of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to such revolving fund.

Date: 2011-01-12
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Rural Energy Equity Act of 2011- Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions requiring a reduction in the tax credit for the production of electricity from renewable resources by grants and other credits to exempt certain loan guarantees or grants issued by the Secretary of Agriculture under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (i.e., Rural Energy for America (REAP) Program).

Date: 2011-01-12
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Renewable Energy Applied Partnerships (REAP) Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to establish a research pilot program for awarding grants to certain partnerships to improve education and training in support of applied sciences in renewable energy as part of a comprehensive program to enhance the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) instruction at the secondary school and undergraduate levels of education.

Date: 2011-01-12
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Education
Renewable Fuels for America's Future Act of 2011- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) require a reduction in the income and excise tax credits for alcohol used for fuel by the amount of alcohol used to meet the taxpayer's renewable fuel obligation under the Clean Air Act; and (2) extend such credits and payments for alcohol fuel mixtures through 2016. Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend until 2017 the additional tariff on ethyl alcohol blends (ethanol) used as fuel. Requires automobile manufacturers to ensure that at least 50% of 2013 and 2014 model year automobiles and light duty trucks manufactured for sale in the United States are dual fueled. Increases the minimum to 90% for later model years. (Excludes automobiles and light duty trucks that operate only on electricity.) Requires the Secretary of Energy 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 to directly market such fuels to gas retailers; and (2) providing subgrants to direct retailers of such fuels for the installation of fuel infrastructure for the direct retail sale of such fuels. Defines: (1) "E-85 fuel" as a blend of gasoline at least 85% derived from ethanol; and (2) "ethanol fuel blend" as a blend of gasoline and ethanol, with a minimum of 0% and maximum of 85% derived from denatured ethanol. Requires 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 specified minimum percentages of such stations for specified years in each state. Allows major fuel distributors to earn and sell credits if they exceed such percentages.

Date: 2011-01-24
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Leave Ethanol Volumes at Existing Levels Act or the LEVEL Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to revise the renewable fuel program, including by: (1) redefining "renewable fuel"; (2) reducing the percentage of renewable fuel that is required to be in gasoline sold or introduced into commerce in the United States (from 9% to 5.4% in 2008, 11.1% to 6.1% in 2009, 12.95% to 6.8% in 2010, 13.95% to 7.4% in 2011, and 15.2% to 7.5% in 2012); (3) revoking the renewable fuel standard for 2013-2022; (4) requiring the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration to provide to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) an estimate of the volumes of gasoline (currently of transportation fuel, biomass-based diesel, and cellulosic biofuel) projected to be sold or introduced into commerce in the following year; (5) making one gallon of cellulosic biomass ethanol or waste derived ethanol equivalent to 2.5 gallons of renewable fuel; (6) repealing provisions concerning cellulosic biofuel and biomass-based diesel; and (7) repealing a requirement that the Administrator of EPA promulgate fuel regulations to implement measures to mitigate adverse impacts on air quality as the result of renewable fuel requirements. Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to repeal provisions requiring EPA to report to Congress on current and future impacts of the renewable fuel requirements on environmental issues, resource conservation issues, and the growth and use of cultivated invasive or noxious plants and their impacts on the environment and agriculture. Prohibits the Administrator from permitting or authorizing (including by granting a wavier through the fuels and fuel additives waiver process) the introduction into commerce of an ethanol-gasoline blend containing greater than 10% ethanol by volume that is intended for general use in conventional gasoline-powered vehicles or engines. Requires the Administrator to study: (1) the effects of the introduction into commerce of an ethanol-gasoline blend on consumer products; (2) the impact of such blend on engine performance of conventional gasoline-powered vehicles and nonroad engines, emissions from the use of the blend, and materials compatibility and consumer safety issues associated with the use of such blend; and (3) the ability of wholesale and retail gasoline distribution infrastructure to introduce such blend into commerce without widespread misfueling by consumers.

Date: 2011-01-25
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Environmental protection
Remove Incentives for Producing Ethanol Act of 2011 or the RIPE Act of 2011- Amends the Clean Air Act to repeal the renewable fuel standard. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate the excise tax credit for alcohol fuel mixtures and the income tax credit for alcohol used as fuel. Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide for the duty free treatment for ethyl alcohol or a mixture containing ethyl alcohol if it is to be used as fuel. Applies such treatment to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouses for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the enactment of this Act.

Date: 2011-01-25
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
American Fuel Protection Act of 2011 - Deems a claim for liability against a qualified entity as a claim against the United States for damages resulting from, or aggravated by, the use of transportation fuel containing ethanol in concentrations greater than 10% to operate an internal combustion engine. Abrogates U.S. sovereign immunity and makes the United States exclusively liable for such claims. Limits awards to actual damages sustained by a claimant. Defines "qualified entity" to mean an entity engaged in the manufacture, use, sale, or distribution of: (1) transportation fuel or renewable fuel, or (2) products which use transportation fuel. Grants U.S. district courts exclusive jurisdiction of any civil actions on such claims.

Date: 2011-02-08
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Law
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the income and excise tax credits for biodiesel used as fuel to: (1) allow a $1.00 tax credit for each gallon of biodiesel produced; (2) provide for an increased income tax credit for small biodiesel producers; (3) revise the definitions of "biodiesel" and "small biodiesel producer"; (4) treat renewable diesel in the same manner as biodiesel for income tax purposes; and (5) treat biodiesel as a taxable fuel for excise tax purposes. Extends the biodiesel income and excise tax credits through December 31, 2016.

Date: 2011-02-14
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit Repeal Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the immediate repeal (the current expiration date is December 31, 2011) of the income and excise tax credits for alchol fuel mixtures (ethanol).

Date: 2011-03-14
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Clean Air Act to include algae-based biofuel in the renewable fuel program. Defines "algae-based biofuel," for purposes of such Act, as liquid fuel derived from the biomass of single- or multi-cellular organisms which are inherently aquatic and classified as non-vascular plants and that have lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions that are at least 60% less than the baseline for such emissions. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) expand the definition of cellulosic biofuel to include algae-based biofuel for purposes of the cellulosic biofuel producer tax credit; and (2) allow accelerated depreciation of property used to produce algae-based biofuel. Defines "algae-based biofuel" as any liquid fuel which is produced from the biomass of an algal organism (i.e., an organism that is primarily aquatic and classified as a non-vascular plant).

Date: 2011-03-17
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Repeal Ethanol Subsidies Today Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the immediate repeal (the current expiration date is December 31, 2011) of the income and excise tax credits for alchol fuel mixtures (ethanol).

Date: 2011-03-17
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow an excise tax credit through 2016 for alternative fuels and fuel mixtures involving compressed or liquefied natural gas; (2) allow an income tax credit through 2016 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 2016 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: 2011-04-06
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Geothermal Tax Parity Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow through 2016 a 30% energy tax credit for investment in geothermal energy property.

Date: 2011-04-06
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation