PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Secretary must run a nationwide test program to see if giving people money helps get energy-saving and renewable-energy fixes put into existing homes. The program can use grants, low-interest loans, interest subsidies, loan guarantees, or other kinds of help. Both homeowners and renters can get help. Grants for energy-saving work cannot be more than $400 or 20% of the cost, whichever is less. Grants for renewable-energy work cannot be more than $2,000 or 25% of the cost, whichever is less. A person cannot get both this help and a tax credit for the same work. The Secretary must try the program in many climates and housing types, check what incentives work for different income levels, consider other available aid, work with state and local groups, and consult with the Federal Energy Administrator, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and other agencies. The Secretary must look at how much extra work the help causes, the smallest federal subsidy needed, admin costs, delays or red tape, where help might not reach people, and how to prevent fraud. Renewable systems can be required to meet performance and certification rules. The Secretary may hire or team up with other agencies or groups. Reports to Congress must start 6 months after August 14, 1976 and continue every 6 months until a final report due 2 years after August 14, 1976. The Secretary must set and report evaluation rules before each test. The Federal Energy Administrator (or a President‑designated successor) lists which measures are “approved” and may require an energy audit. Up to $200,000,000 is authorized and remains available until spent.

Title 12, §1701z–8

Banks and Banking, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall undertake a national demonstration program designed to test the feasibility and effectiveness of various forms of financial assistance for encouraging the installation or implementation of approved energy conservation measures and approved renewable-resource energy measures in existing dwelling units. The Secretary shall carry out such demonstration program with a view toward recommending a national program or programs designed to reduce significantly the consumption of energy in existing dwelling units.

(b)The Secretary is authorized to make financial assistance available pursuant to this section in the form of grants, low-interest-rate loans, interest subsidies, loan guarantees, and such other forms of assistance as the Secretary deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section. Assistance may be made available to both owners of dwelling units and tenants occupying such units.

(c)In carrying out the demonstration program required by this section, the Secretary shall—

(1)provide assistance in a wide variety of geographic areas to reflect differences in climate, types of dwelling units, and income levels of recipients in order to provide a national profile for use in designing a program which is to be operational and effective nationwide;

(2)evaluate the appropriateness of various financial incentives for different income levels of owners and occupants of existing dwelling units;

(3)take into account and evaluate any other financial assistance which may be available for the installation or implementation of energy conservation and renewable-resource energy measures;

(4)make use of such State and local instrumentalities or other public or private entities as may be appropriate in carrying out the purposes of this section in coordination with the provisions of part C of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act [42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.];

(5)consider, with respect to various forms of assistance and procedures for their application, (A) the extent to which energy conservation measures and renewable-resource energy measures are encouraged which would otherwise not have been undertaken, (B) the minimum amount of Federal subsidy necessary to achieve the objectives of a national program, (C) the costs of administering the assistance, (D) the extent to which the assistance may be encumbered by delays, redtape, and uncertainty as to its availability with respect to any particular applicant, (E) the factors which may prevent the assistance from being available in certain areas or for certain classes of persons, and (F) the extent to which fraudulent practices can be prevented; and

(6)consult with the Administrator, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the heads of such other Federal agencies as may be appropriate.

(d)(1)The amount of any grant made pursuant to this section shall not exceed the lesser of—

(A)with respect to an approved energy conservation measure, (i) $400, or (ii) 20 per centum of the cost of installing or otherwise implementing such measure; and

(B)with respect to an approved renewable-resource energy measure, (i) $2,000, or (ii) 25 per centum of the cost of installing or otherwise implementing such measure.

(2)No person shall be eligible for both financial assistance under this section and a credit against income tax for the same energy conservation measure or renewable-resource energy measure.

(e)The Secretary may condition the availability of financial assistance with respect to the installation and implementation of any renewable-resource energy measure on such measure’s meeting performance standards for reliability and efficiency and such certification procedures as the Secretary may, in consultation with the Administrator, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and other appropriate Federal agencies, prescribe for the purpose of protecting consumers.

(f)In carrying out the demonstration program required by this section, the Secretary is authorized to delegate responsibilities to, or to contract with, other Federal agencies or with such State or local instrumentalities or other public or private bodies as the Secretary may deem desirable. Such demonstration program shall be coordinated, to the extent practicable, with the State energy conservation plans as described in, and implemented pursuant to, part C of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act [42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.].

(g)The Secretary shall submit an interim report to the Congress not later than 6 months after August 14, 1976, (and every 6 months thereafter until the final report is made under this subsection) indicating the progress made in carrying out the demonstration program required by this section and shall submit a final report to the Congress, containing findings and legislative recommendations, not later than 2 years after August 14, 1976. As part of each report made under this subsection, the Secretary shall include an evaluation, based on the criteria described in subsection (h), of each demonstration project conducted under this section.

(h)Prior to undertaking any demonstration project under this section, the Secretary shall specify and report to the Congress the criteria by which the Secretary will evaluate the effectiveness of the project and the results to be sought.

(i)As used in this section:

(1)The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration; except that after such Administration ceases to exist, such term means any officer of the United States designated by the President for purposes of this section.

(2)The term “approved”, with respect to an energy conservation measure or a renewable-resource energy measure, means any such measure which is included on a list of such measures which is published by the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration pursuant to section 365(e)(1) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act [42 U.S.C. 6325(e)(1)]. The Administrator may, by rule, require that an energy audit be conducted as a condition of obtaining assistance under this section for a renewable-resource energy measure.

(3)The terms “energy audit”, “energy conservation measure”, and “renewable-resource energy measure” have the meanings given the terms in section 361(c) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act [42 U.S.C. 6321(c)].

(j)There is authorized to be appropriated, for purposes of this section, not to exceed $200,000,000. Any amount appropriated pursuant to this subsection shall remain available until expended.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, referred to in subsecs. (c)(4) and (f), is Pub. L. 94–163, Dec. 22, 1975, 89 Stat. 871. Part C of title III of such act is classified generally to part B (§ 6321 et seq.) of subchapter III of chapter 77 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 6201 of Title 42 and Tables. Codification Section was enacted as part of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970, and not as part of the National Housing Act which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 117–58 substituted “given the terms in section 361(c) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act” for “prescribed for such terms in section 366 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act”. 1977—Subsecs. (c)(6), (e). Pub. L. 95–91 inserted “, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development,” after “the Administrator”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

Functions vested in Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under this section transferred to Secretary of Energy by section 7154(b) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. Federal Energy Administration terminated and functions vested by law in Administrator thereof transferred to Secretary of Energy (unless otherwise specifically provided) by section 7151(a) and 7293 of Title 42. Wage Rate RequirementsFor provisions relating to rates of wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics on projects for

Construction

, alteration, or repair work funded under div. D or an amendment by div. D of Pub. L. 117–58, including authority of Secretary of Labor, see section 18851 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

§1701z–8 Energy Conservation and Renewable-resource Demonstration