Sec. 102. Transition to alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels
438 words·~2 min read·
/bill/118/s/3785/is/section-102A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
In this section: The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The term alternative fuel commercial fishing vessel means a commercial fishing vessel that runs on an energy source other than an energy source that is exclusively derived from petroleum, which may include a hybrid energy source. The term commercial fishing vessel has the meaning given that term in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code. The term necessary shoreside infrastructure means shoreside infrastructure necessary to facilitate the transition of commercial fishing vessels to alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels, which may include charging stations for electric alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels and refueling stations for alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels.
The term pilot program means the pilot program established under subsection (b)(1). Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall establish a pilot program to facilitate the transition of United States-flagged commercial fishing vessels to alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels. In carrying out the pilot program, the Administrator may make loans— to facilitate the transition from commercial fishing vessels using energy sources exclusively derived from petroleum to alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels, which may include loans for the building of new alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels or retrofitting existing commercial fishing vessels into alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels; and for research and development of alternative fuel technologies for commercial fishing vessels and necessary shoreside infrastructure.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator and the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall each promulgate regulations necessary for the implementation of the pilot program. Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, jointly with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall carry out, and submit to Congress a report describing the results of, a study on— methods to further develop alternative fuels for use with commercial fishing vessels; how to improve existing alternative fuel technologies in commercial fishing vessels; the fuel sources available for commercial fishing vessels, and the limitations of those fuel sources; and opportunities for the use of hybrid technologies in commercial fishing vessels.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to carry out subsection (b). Of the amounts made available under paragraph
(1)for each fiscal year— not less than $10,000,000 shall be used to make loans described in subsection (b)(2)(A); and not less than $10,000,000 shall be used to make loans described in subsection (b)(2)(B).