Sec. 10201. Alternative fuel and low-emission aviation technology program
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/bill/116/hr/2/eh/section-10201A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall establish and carry out a competitive grant and cost-sharing agreement program for eligible entities to carry out projects located in the United States that— develop, demonstrate, or apply low-emission aviation technologies; and produce, transport, blend, or store sustainable aviation fuels that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the operation of aircraft that have fuel uplift in the United States.
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider— the anticipated public benefits of the project; the potential to increase the domestic production and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels or the use of low emission aviation technologies among the United States commercial aviation and aerospace industry; the potential greenhouse gas emissions from the project, including emissions resulting from the development of the project; the potential for creating new jobs in the United States; the potential the project has to reduce or displace, on a lifecycle basis, United States greenhouse gas emissions associated with air travel; the proposed utilization of non-Federal contributions; and for projects related to the production of sustainable aviation fuel, the potential net greenhouse gas emissions impact of such fuel on a lifecycle basis, which shall include potential direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions (including resulting from changes in land use).
In evaluating projects under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider— the benefits of ensuring a variety of feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuels; the use of direct air capture; aeronautical construction and design improvements that result in more efficient aircraft, including high-performance lightweight materials; more efficient aircraft engines, including hybrid engines and electric engines suitable for fully or partially powering aircraft operations; and air traffic management and navigation technologies that permit more efficient flight patterns.
There is authorized to be appropriated $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this section. Of the amount made available under subsection (d), 50 percent of such amount shall be awarded for projects described in subsection (a)(1) and 50 percent shall be awarded for projects described in subsection (a)(2). Not later than October 1, 2026, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report describing the results of the grant program under this section.
The report shall include the following: A description of the entities and projects that received grants or other cost-sharing agreements under this section. A detailed explanation for why each entity received the type of funding disbursement such entity did. A description of whether the program is leading to an increase in the production and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels and use of low-emission aviation technologies by United States aviation and aerospace industry stakeholders.
A description of the economic impacts resulting from the funding to and operation of the project. In this section: The term eligible entity means— a State or local government other than an airport sponsor; an air carrier; an airport sponsor; an accredited institution of higher education; a person or entity engaged in the production, transportation, blending or storage of sustainable aviation fuels or feedstocks that could be used to produce sustainable aviation fuels; a person or entity engaged in the development, demonstration, or application of low-emission aviation technologies; or nonprofit entities or nonprofit consortia with experience in sustainable aviation fuels, low-emission technology, or other clean transportation research programs.
The term low-emission aviation technology means technologies that significantly— improve aircraft fuel efficiency; increase utilization of sustainable aviation fuel; or reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced during operation of civil aircraft. The term sustainable aviation fuel means liquid fuel consisting of synthesized hydrocarbons that— meets the requirements of ASTM International Standard D7566; is derived from biomass (as such term is defined in section 45K(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), waste streams, renewable energy sources or gaseous carbon oxides; conforms to the standards, recommended practices, requirements and criteria, supporting documents, implementation elements, and any other technical guidance for sustainable aviation fuels that are adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization with the agreement of the United States; achieves at least a 50 percent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions under the standards and related materials specified in subparagraph
(C)compared to conventional jet fuel; is not derived from feedstocks that are developed through practices that threaten mass deforestation, harm biodiversity, or otherwise promote environmentally unsustainable processes; and is produced in the United States.