Collapse to view only § 17052. Renewable fuel infrastructure grants
- § 17051. Renewable fuel dispenser requirements
- § 17052. Renewable fuel infrastructure grants
- § 17053. Federal fleet fueling centers
- § 17054. Biofuels distribution and advanced biofuels infrastructure
§ 17051. Renewable fuel dispenser requirements
(a) Market penetration reports
(b) Dispenser feasibility study
Not later than 24 months after December 19, 2007, the Secretary, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, shall report to the Congress on the feasibility of requiring motor fuel retailers to install E–85 compatible dispensers and related systems at retail fuel facilities in regions where flexible-fuel vehicle market penetration has reached 15 percent of motor vehicles. In conducting such study, the Secretary shall consider and report on the following factors:
(1) The commercial availability of E–85 fuel and the number of competing E–85 wholesale suppliers in a given region.
(2) The level of financial assistance provided on an annual basis by the Federal Government, State governments, and nonprofit entities for the installation of E–85 compatible infrastructure.
(3) The number of retailers whose retail locations are unable to support more than 2 underground storage tank dispensers.
(4) The expense incurred by retailers in the installation and sale of E–85 compatible dispensers and related systems and any potential effects on the price of motor vehicle fuel.
(Pub. L. 110–140, title II, § 242, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1540.)
§ 17052. Renewable fuel infrastructure grants
(a) Definition of renewable fuel blend
(b) Infrastructure development grants
(1) Establishment
(2) Selection criteriaNot later than 12 months after December 19, 2007, the Secretary shall establish criteria for evaluating applications for grants under this subsection that will maximize the availability and use of renewable fuel blends, and that will ensure that renewable fuel blends are available across the country. Such criteria shall provide for—
(A) consideration of the public demand for each renewable fuel blend in a particular geographic area based on State registration records showing the number of flexible-fuel vehicles;
(B) consideration of the opportunity to create or expand corridors of renewable fuel blend stations along interstate or State highways;
(C) consideration of the experience of each applicant with previous, similar projects;
(D) consideration of population, number of flexible-fuel vehicles, number of retail fuel outlets, and saturation of flexible-fuel vehicles; and
(E) priority consideration to applications that—
(i) are most likely to maximize displacement of petroleum consumption, measured as a total quantity and a percentage;
(ii) are best able to incorporate existing infrastructure while maximizing, to the extent practicable, the use of renewable fuel blends; and
(iii) demonstrate the greatest commitment on the part of the applicant to ensure funding for the proposed project and the greatest likelihood that the project will be maintained or expanded after Federal assistance under this subsection is completed.
(3) LimitationsAssistance provided under this subsection shall not exceed—
(A) 33 percent of the estimated cost of the installation, replacement, or conversion of motor fuel storage and dispensing infrastructure; or
(B) $180,000 for a combination of equipment at any one retail outlet location.
(4) Operation of renewable fuel blend stations
(5) Notification requirements
(6) Double counting
(7) Reservation of funds
(c) Retail technical and marketing assistanceThe Secretary shall enter into contracts with entities with demonstrated experience in assisting retail fueling stations in installing refueling systems and marketing renewable fuel blends nationally, for the provision of technical and marketing assistance to recipients of grants under this section. Such assistance shall include—
(1) technical advice for compliance with applicable Federal and State environmental requirements;
(2) help in identifying supply sources and securing long-term contracts; and
(3) provision of public outreach, education, and labeling materials.
(d) Refueling infrastructure corridors
(1) In general
(2) Grant purposesA grant under this subsection shall be used for the establishment of refueling infrastructure corridors, as designated by the Secretary, for renewable fuel blends, including—
(A) installation of infrastructure and equipment necessary to ensure adequate distribution of renewable fuel blends within the corridor;
(B) installation of infrastructure and equipment necessary to directly support vehicles powered by renewable fuel blends; and
(C) operation and maintenance of infrastructure and equipment installed as part of a project funded by the grant.
(3) Applications
(A) Requirements
(i) In general
(ii) Minimum requirementsAt a minimum, the Secretary shall require that an application for a grant under this subsection—(I) be submitted by—(aa) the head of a State, tribal, or local government or a metropolitan transportation authority, or any combination of those entities; and(bb) a registered participant in the Vehicle Technology Deployment Program of the Department; and(II) include—(aa) a description of the project proposed in the application, including the ways in which the project meets the requirements of this subsection;(bb) an estimate of the degree of use of the project, including the estimated size of fleet of vehicles operated with renewable fuels blend available within the geographic region of the corridor, measured as a total quantity and a percentage;(cc) an estimate of the potential petroleum displaced as a result of the project (measured as a total quantity and a percentage), and a plan to collect and disseminate petroleum displacement and other relevant data relating to the project to be funded under the grant, over the expected life of the project;(dd) a description of the means by which the project will be sustainable without Federal assistance after the completion of the term of the grant;(ee) a complete description of the costs of the project, including acquisition, construction, operation, and maintenance costs over the expected life of the project; and(ff) a description of which costs of the project will be supported by Federal assistance under this subsection.
(B) Partners
(4) Selection criteriaIn evaluating applications under the pilot program, the Secretary shall—
(A) consider the experience of each applicant with previous, similar projects; and
(B) give priority consideration to applications that—
(i) are most likely to maximize displacement of petroleum consumption, measured as a total quantity and a percentage;
(ii) are best able to incorporate existing infrastructure while maximizing, to the extent practicable, the use of advanced biofuels;
(iii) demonstrate the greatest commitment on the part of the applicant to ensure funding for the proposed project and the greatest likelihood that the project will be maintained or expanded after Federal assistance under this subsection is completed;
(iv) represent a partnership of public and private entities; and
(v) exceed the minimum requirements of paragraph (3)(A)(ii).
(5) Pilot project requirements
(A) Maximum amount
(B) Cost sharing
(C) Maximum period of grants
(D) Deployment and distribution
(E) Transfer of information and knowledge
(6) Schedule
(A) Initial grants
(i) In general
(ii) Deadline
(iii) Initial selection
(B) Additional grants
(i) In general
(ii) Deadline
(iii) Initial selection
(7) Reports to Congress
(A) Initial reportNot later than 60 days after the date on which grants are awarded under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing—
(i) an identification of the grant recipients and a description of the projects to be funded under the pilot program;
(ii) an identification of other applicants that submitted applications for the pilot program but to which funding was not provided; and
(iii) a description of the mechanisms used by the Secretary to ensure that the information and knowledge gained by participants in the pilot program are transferred among the pilot program participants and to other interested parties, including other applicants that submitted applications.
(B) Evaluation
(e) Restriction
(f) Authorization of appropriations
(Pub. L. 110–140, title II, § 244, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1541.)
§ 17053. Federal fleet fueling centers
(a) In general
(b) Report
Not later than October 31 of the first calendar year beginning after December 19, 2007, and each October 31 thereafter, the President shall submit to Congress a report that describes the progress toward complying with subsection (a), including identifying—
(1) the number of Federal fleet fueling centers that contain at least 1 renewable fuel pump; and
(2) the number of Federal fleet fueling centers that do not contain any renewable fuel pumps.
(c) Department of Defense facility
(d) Authorization of appropriations
(Pub. L. 110–140, title II, § 246, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1547.)
§ 17054. Biofuels distribution and advanced biofuels infrastructure
(a) In general
(b) Focus
The program described in subsection (a) shall focus on the physical and chemical properties of biofuels and efforts to prevent or mitigate against adverse impacts of those properties in the areas of—
(1) corrosion of metal, plastic, rubber, cork, fiberglass, glues, or any other material used in pipes and storage tanks;
(2) dissolving of storage tank sediments;
(3) clogging of filters;
(4) contamination from water or other adulterants or pollutants;
(5) poor flow properties related to low temperatures;
(6) oxidative and thermal instability in long-term storage and uses;
(7) microbial contamination;
(8) problems associated with electrical conductivity; and
(9) such other areas as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(Pub. L. 110–140, title II, § 248, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1548.)