§13220 — Title 42 The Public Health and Welfare | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary will give one credit to a fleet or covered person for each qualifying amount of biodiesel fuel they buy and use in vehicles that weigh more than 8,500 pounds. The fuel must be at least 20% biodiesel by volume. No credit is given for fuel used in alternative‑fuel vehicles or for fuel bought because a federal or state law required it. The Secretary can lower the 20% rule for cold starts, safety, or vehicle performance. The buyer must give written proof to get the credit. If asked, the Secretary will count one credit as if the fleet bought one alternative‑fueled vehicle that year. Credits can only meet up to 50% of a fleet’s required alternative‑vehicle purchases, except for the biodiesel alternative fuel providers named in section 13251(a)(2)(A). These credits are not the same as credits under section 13258. Definitions and rules: “Biodiesel” means a nonpetroleum renewable diesel substitute that meets EPA fuel registration rules and includes fuels made from animal wastes, municipal solid waste, and wastewater oils. “Qualifying volume” is 450 gallons unless the Secretary sets a higher number based on average fleet use. The Secretary must write procedures by January 1, 1999, and collect data needed to set the qualifying volume.

Title 42, §13220

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Secretary shall allocate one credit under this section to a fleet or covered person for each qualifying volume of the biodiesel component of fuel containing at least 20 percent biodiesel by volume purchased after the date of the enactment of this section, for use by the fleet or covered person in vehicles owned or operated by the fleet or covered person that weigh more than 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight rating.

(2)No credits shall be allocated under paragraph (1) for a purchase of biodiesel—

(A)for use in alternative fueled vehicles; or

(B)that is required by Federal or State law.

(3)The Secretary may, by rule, lower the 20 percent biodiesel volume requirement in paragraph (1) for reasons related to cold start, safety, or vehicle function considerations.

(4)A fleet or covered person seeking a credit under this section shall provide written documentation to the Secretary supporting the allocation of a credit to such fleet or covered person under paragraph (1).

(b)(1)At the request of a fleet or covered person allocated a credit under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, for the year in which the purchase of a qualifying volume is made, treat that purchase as the acquisition of one alternative fueled vehicle the fleet or covered person is required to acquire under this subchapter, subchapter II, or subchapter III.

(2)Credits allocated under subsection (a) may not be used to satisfy more than 50 percent of the alternative fueled vehicle requirements of a fleet or covered person under this subchapter, subchapter II, and subchapter III. This paragraph shall not apply to a fleet or covered person that is a biodiesel alternative fuel provider described in section 13251(a)(2)(A) of this title.

(c)A credit under this section shall not be considered a credit under section 13258 of this title.

(d)The Secretary shall, before January 1, 1999, issue a rule establishing procedures for the implementation of this section.

(e)The Secretary shall collect such data as are required to make a determination described in subsection (f)(2)(B).

(f)For purposes of this section—

(1)the term “biodiesel”—

(A)means a diesel fuel substitute produced from nonpetroleum renewable resources that meets the registration requirements for fuels and fuel additives established by the Environmental Protection Agency under section 7545 of this title;

(B)includes biodiesel derived from—

(i)animal wastes, including poultry fats and poultry wastes, and other waste materials; or

(ii)municipal solid waste and sludges and oils derived from wastewater and the treatment of wastewater; and

(2)the term “qualifying volume” means—

(A)450 gallons; or

(B)if the Secretary determines by rule that the average annual alternative fuel use in light duty vehicles by fleets and covered persons exceeds 450 gallons or gallon equivalents, the amount of such average annual alternative fuel use.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The date of the enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), probably means October 21, 1998, the date of the enactment of this section by Pub. L. 105–277, rather than Nov. 13, 1998, the date of the enactment of this section by Pub. L. 105–388. This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this title”, meaning title III of Pub. L. 102–486, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2866, which enacted this subchapter, amended section 6374 of this title, and repealed provisions set out as a note under section 6374 of this title. For complete classification of title III to the Code, see Tables. Subchapter II, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “title IV”, meaning title IV of Pub. L. 102–486, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2875, which enacted subchapter II (§ 13231 et seq.) of this chapter, amended section 6374a and 6374b and former section 6374c of this title and section 717, 717a, 2001, 2002, 2006, and 2013 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, enacted provisions set out as notes under former section 79b and section 717 of Title 15, and repealed provisions set out as a note under section 717c of Title 15. For complete classification of title IV to the Code, see Tables. Codification Pub. L. 105–277 and Pub. L. 105–388 enacted identical sections.

Amendments

2005—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 109–58 inserted dash after “ ‘biodiesel’ ”, designated remainder of existing provisions as subpar. (A), and added subpar. (B).

§13220 Biodiesel Fuel Use Credits