CHAPTER 588p
ENERGY CONSERVATION LOANS
AND INVESTMENT IN ALTERNATIVE FUELS

      Secs. 32-315 to 32-318. Definitions. Energy conservation revolving loan account. Energy conservation loan program. Bond authorization. Sections 32-315 to 32-318, inclusive, are repealed, effective October 1, 2007.

      (P.A. 92-208, S. 2-6; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-7, S. 32-34, 36; P.A. 93-382, S. 17, 69; P.A. 95-217, S. 4; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 3, 5, 6; P.A. 97-173, S. 3; P.A. 98-28, S. 106, 117; P.A. 07-64, S. 2.)

      Sec. 32-324. Definitions. For the purposes of this section and sections 32-324a to 32-324f, inclusive:

      (1) "Biodiesel" means a fuel comprised of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, designated B100, and meeting the requirements of designation D6751 of the American Society for Testing and Materials.

      (2) "Qualified biodiesel producer" means a facility that produces biodiesel, is registered with the state of Connecticut, is domiciled in Connecticut and is actively engaged in the production of biodiesel in Connecticut for commercial purposes.

      (3) "Qualified biodiesel distributor" means a facility that stores and distributes biodiesel, is registered with the state of Connecticut, is domiciled in Connecticut and is actively engaged in the storage and distribution of biodiesel in Connecticut for commercial purposes.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 51.)

      History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 effective July 1, 2007.

      Sec. 32-324a. Connecticut qualified biodiesel producer incentive account. Agreement. (a) There is established an account to be known as the "Connecticut qualified biodiesel producer incentive account", which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account.

      (b) The moneys in said account shall be expended by the Department of Economic and Community Development for the purpose of administration of the program and providing grants to qualified biodiesel producers and qualified biodiesel distributors pursuant to sections 32-324b to 32-324f, inclusive. For the purposes of implementing this grant, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development may enter into an agreement, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 55a, with a person, firm, corporation or other entity.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 52.)

      History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 effective July 1, 2007.

      Sec. 32-324b. Grants to biodiesel producers. Grant amounts. (a) A qualified biodiesel producer shall be eligible for not more than sixty monthly grants from the account. The Department of Economic and Community Development, in consultation with the person, firm, corporation or entity selected to implement the grant pursuant to subsection (b) of section 32-324a, if applicable, shall determine monthly grant amounts by calculating the estimated gallons of biodiesel produced during the preceding month, as certified by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or a designee, and applying such figure to the per gallon incentive credit established in subsection (b) of this section.

      (b) Each qualified biodiesel producer shall be eligible for a total grant in any fiscal year equal to the following amounts: (1) For the first five million gallons of biodiesel produced, thirty cents per gallon; (2) for the second five million gallons of biodiesel produced, twenty cents per gallon; and (3) for the third five million gallons of biodiesel produced, ten cents per gallon.

      (c) Biodiesel produced by a qualified biodiesel producer in excess of fifteen million gallons in any fiscal year shall not be eligible for a grant pursuant to this section.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 53.)

      History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 effective July 1, 2007.

      Sec. 32-324c. Application for grant. To receive a grant pursuant to section 32-324b, a qualified biodiesel producer shall file an application for such funds not later than fifteen days after the last day of the month for which the grant is sought. The application shall include, but not be limited to: (1) The location of the qualified biodiesel producer; (2) the number of Connecticut citizens employed by the biodiesel producer in the preceding month; (3) the number of gallons of biodiesel produced during the month for which the grant is sought; (4) a copy of the qualified biodiesel producer's Connecticut registration; (5) any other information deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to ensure that such grants shall be made only to qualified biodiesel producers; and (6) satisfactory documentation that the biodiesel has a net carbon energy benefit when compared to the fuel it will replace.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 54.)

      History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 effective July 1, 2007.

      Sec. 32-324d. One-time grant for biodiesel producers. A qualified biodiesel producer shall be eligible for a one-time grant pursuant to section 32-324a to assist with purchasing equipment or constructing, modifying or retrofitting production facilities. Such grant shall not exceed (1) three million dollars, and (2) twenty-five per cent of the equipment or construction cost regardless of the number of facilities owned by said qualified biodiesel producer.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 55.)

      History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 effective July 1, 2007.

      Sec. 32-324e. Grants to qualified biodiesel distributors: Permitted purposes. Amounts. A qualified biodiesel distributor shall not be eligible for a grant pursuant to section 32-324a for purposes other than to assist with purchasing equipment or constructing, modifying or retrofitting facilities, including, but not limited to, the actual costs of creating storage and distribution capacity for biodiesel during the month. No grant issued pursuant to said section 32-324a shall exceed fifty thousand dollars for any one distributor at any one site. The Department of Economic and Community Development, in consultation with the person, firm, corporation or entity selected to implement the grant pursuant to subsection (b) of section 32-324a, if applicable, shall create an application process and guidelines for the administration of this grant provision.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 56; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-5, S. 19.)

      History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 effective July 1, 2007; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-5 substituted "shall not be eligible" for "shall be eligible" re distributors and purposes of grants, and made a technical change, effective October 6, 2007.

      Sec. 32-324f. Guidelines for grant programs. Annual report. The Department of Economic and Community Development, in consultation with the person, firm, corporation or entity selected to implement the grant pursuant to subsection (b) of section 32-324a, if applicable, shall create guidelines necessary for the administration of the provisions of this section on the progress of the grant programs administered pursuant to sections 32-324a to 32-324e, inclusive. The Department of Economic and Community Development, in consultation with such person, firm, corporation or entity, if applicable, shall submit an annual report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy and technology, commerce and the environment.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 57.)

      History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 effective July 1, 2007.

      Sec. 32-324g. Fuel diversification grant program. Agreement. Guidelines. Report. The Department of Economic and Community Development shall administer a fuel diversification grant program to provide funding to Connecticut institutions of higher education or Connecticut institutions of agricultural research for purposes which may include, but are not limited to (1) research to promote biofuel production from agricultural products, algae and waste grease, and (2) biofuel quality testing. Said department may enter into an agreement, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 55a, with a person, firm, corporation or other entity to administer such program. The Department of Economic and Community Development, in consultation with such person, firm, corporation or entity, if applicable, shall create guidelines necessary for the administration of the provisions of this section. If the Department of Economic and Community Development selects such a person, firm, corporation or other entity to administer the program, not later than January 1, 2008, and annually thereafter, such person, firm, corporation or other entity shall submit a report to the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development regarding the status of such program.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 61.)

      History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 effective July 1, 2007.

      Sec. 32-324h. Institute for Sustainable Energy to educate consumers re biodiesel. Connecticut biodiesel link program. Posting of information on Internet. (a) The Institute for Sustainable Energy shall (1) compile and distribute educational materials regarding biodiesel to municipalities, local boards of education and private commercial entities to educate future consumers, and (2) establish and administer a Connecticut biodiesel link program to establish a database of schools, restaurants, institutional cafeterias and other institutions and businesses in the state that produce waste vegetable oil or other comparable food product suitable for conversion to biodiesel. The database shall be maintained by the Institute for Sustainable Energy and shall be made available to the public on said institute's Internet web site. Businesses interested in selling their waste vegetable oil or other comparable food product to producers of biodiesel heating and motor vehicle fuel may notify the Institute for Sustainable Energy and have their names, contact information and intentions regarding such businesses placed on said web site. The Institute for Sustainable Energy shall make reasonable efforts to facilitate contact between parties with similar interests.

      (b) The Institute for Sustainable Energy shall post educational materials regarding the Connecticut biofuel link program on said institute's Internet web site, and such information shall be posted as a link on the Internet web sites of the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Department of Agriculture, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, The University of Connecticut Biofuel Consortium and The University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System, including, but not limited to, information regarding the starting of a waste vegetable oil business and strategies for conducting such business.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 59.)