S 298 IS
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 298
To provide incentives for renewable energy production, to increase
fuel economy standards for automobiles, and to provide tax incentives for
renewable energy production.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 16, 2007
Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself and Mr. STEVENS) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
A BILL
To provide incentives for renewable energy production, to increase
fuel economy standards for automobiles, and to provide tax incentives for
renewable energy production.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Renewable Energy, Fuel Reduction, and
Economic Stabilization and EnHancement Act of 2007' or the `REFRESH Act'.
TITLE I--RENEWABLE ENERGY INCENTIVES
SEC. 101. GEOTHERMAL POWER.
(a) In General- The Secretary of Energy, acting through the Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (referred to in this title as the
`Secretary'), shall make grants to eligible entities (as determined by the
Secretary) to promote geothermal power development, including high- and
low-temperature geothermal power development.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000.
SEC. 102. OCEAN ENERGY.
(a) In General- The Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities (as
determined by the Secretary) to develop all forms of ocean energy (including
wave, current, tidal, and thermal energy).
(b) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000.
SEC. 103. PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC-COMBUSTION ENGINE VEHICLES.
(a) In General- The Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities (as
determined by the Secretary) to assist in the development of new technology
(including storage batteries or other forms of technology) to assist
automobile manufactures in the production of plug-in hybrid
electric-combustion engine vehicles.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000.
TITLE II--FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS
SEC. 201. TRUTH IN TESTING OF CAFE STANDARDS.
(a) Testing and Calculation Procedures-
(1) IN GENERAL- Section 32904(c) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by striking `However, except under section 32908 of this title, the
Administrator shall use the same procedures for passenger automobiles the
Administrator used for model year 1975 (weighted 55 percent urban cycle and
45 percent highway cycle),' and insert `In measuring fuel economy under this
subsection, the Administrator shall use the procedures described in the
final rule relating to fuel economy labeling published in the Federal
Register on December 27, 2006 (71 Fed. Reg. 77,872; to be codified at 40
C.F.R. parts 86 and 600)'.
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE- Paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date that is
5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to
passenger automobiles manufactured after such date.
(1) STUDY- The Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration shall conduct a study of the anticipated economic impacts and
fuel saving benefits that would result from a requirement that all vehicles
manufactured for sale in the United States with a gross vehicle weight of
not less than 10,000 pounds meet specific average fuel economy
standards.
(2) REPORT- Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall submit a report to Congress that
includes--
(A) the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1);
and
(B) a recommendation on whether the vehicles described in paragraph
(1) should be subject to average fuel economy standards.
SEC. 202. TIRE RESISTANCE STANDARDS.
Section 30123 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following:
`(d) Low Rolling Resistance Tires- Not later than 5 years after the date
of the enactment of this subsection, all passenger automobile tires sold in
the United States shall meet the low rolling resistance standards prescribed
by the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.'.
SEC. 203. TRAFFIC REDUCTION GRANTS.
(a) In General- The Secretary of Transportation may award grants to States
to develop telecommuting and flexible work scheduling incentives that will
reduce traffic congestion in urban areas.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be
appropriated $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 to carry out the grant program
established under this section. Any sums appropriated pursuant to this
subsection shall remain available until expended.
TITLE III--TAX CREDITS
SEC. 301. EXPANSION OF CREDIT FOR PRODUCTION OF ENERGY FROM CERTAIN
RENEWABLE RESOURCES.
(a) Expansion of Resources to Wave, Current, Tidal, and Ocean Thermal
Energy-
(1) IN GENERAL- Section 45(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(defining qualified energy resources) is amended by striking `and' at the
end of subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph
(H) and inserting `, and', and by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
`(I) wave, current, tidal, and ocean thermal energy.'
(2) DEFINITION OF RESOURCES- Section 45(c) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(10) WAVE, CURRENT, TIDAL, AND OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY- The term `wave,
current, tidal, and ocean thermal energy' means electricity produced from
any of the following:
`(A) Free flowing ocean water derived from tidal currents, ocean
currents, waves, or estuary currents.
`(B) Ocean thermal energy.
`(C) Free flowing water in rivers, lakes, man made channels, or
streams.'
(3) FACILITIES- Section 45(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(11) WAVE, CURRENT, TIDAL, AND OCEAN THERMAL FACILITY- In the case of a
facility using resources described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of
subsection (c)(10)(A) to produce electricity, the term `qualified facility'
means any facility owned by the taxpayer which is originally placed in
service after the date of the enactment of this paragraph and before January
1, 2009, but such term shall not include a facility which includes
impoundment structures or a small irrigation power facility.'
(b) Expansion of Small Irrigation Power- Paragraph (5) of section 45(c) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:
`(5) SMALL IRRIGATION POWER- The term `small irrigation power' means
power--
`(A) generated without any dam or impoundment of water
through--
`(i) through an irrigation system canal or ditch, or
`(ii) utilizing lake taps, perched alpine lakes, or run-of-river
with diversion, and
`(B) the nameplate capacity rating of which is less than 15
megawatts.'.
(c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to
electricity produced in taxable years ending after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
SEC. 302. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF NEW QUALIFIED HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE
CREDIT FOR PLUG-IN HYBRIDS.
(1) NEW QUALIFIED HYBRID PASSENGER AUTOMOBILES AND LIGHT TRUCKS-
Paragraph (2) of section 30B(j) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is
amended by inserting `(December 31, 2012, in the case of a new qualified
hybrid motor vehicle which is recharged by means of an off board device)'
after `December 31, 2010'.
(2) OTHER QUALIFIED HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLES- Paragraph (3) of section
30B(j) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting
`(December 31, 2012, in the case of a new qualified hybrid motor vehicle
which is recharged by means of an off board device)' after `December 31,
2009'.
(b) Elimination of Limitation on Number of New Qualified Hybrid and
Advanced Lean Burn Technology Vehicles Eligible for Full Alternative Motor
Vehicle Tax Credit-
(1) IN GENERAL- Section 30B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is
amended--
(A) by striking subsection (f); and
(B) by redesignating subsections (g) through (j), as amended by
subsection (a), as subsections (f) through (i), respectively.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS-
(A) Paragraphs (4) and (6) of section 30B(g) of such Code, as
redesignated by paragraph (1)(B), are each amended by striking
`(determined without regard to subsection (g))' and inserting `(determined
without regard to subsection (f))'.
(B) Section 38(b)(25) of such Code is amended by striking `section
30B(g)(1)' and inserting `section 30B(f)(1)'.
(C) Section 55(c)(2) of such Code is amended by striking `section
30B(g)(2)' and inserting `section 30B(f)(2)'.
(D) Section 1016(a)(36) of such Code is amended by striking `section
30B(h)(4)' and inserting `section 30B(g)(4)'.
(E) Section 6501(m) of such Code is amended by striking `section
30B(h)(9)' and inserting `section 30B(g)(9)'.
(c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to
property placed in service after December 31, 2005, in taxable years ending
after such date.
END