1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Rural Energy Improvement Act”.
Rural Energy Improvement Act
A BILL
To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to reauthorize and improve the Rural Energy for America Program.
2. Rural energy for America program
Section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107) is amended—
in subsection (c)—
by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respectively;
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph:
“(2) Tiered application process—In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall establish a three-tiered application, evaluation, and oversight process that varies based on the cost of the proposed project with the process most simplified for projects referred to in subparagraph (A), more comprehensive for projects referred to in subparagraph (B), and most comprehensive for projects referred to in subparagraph (C). The three tiers for such process shall be as follows:
“(A) Tier 1—Projects for which the cost of the project funded under this subsection is not more than $80,000.
“(B) Tier 2—Projects for which the cost of the project funded under this subsection is more than $80,000 but less than $200,000.
“(C) Tier 3—Projects for which the cost of the project funded under this subsection is $200,000 or more.”
in paragraph (3) (as redesignated by subparagraph (A)), by striking paragraph (F) and inserting the following new subparagraph:
“(F) the natural resource conservation benefits of the renewable energy system; and”
in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated)—
in subparagraph (A), by inserting “in amounts not to exceed $100,000 per grant” after “in the form of grants”; and
by striking subparagraph (C); and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(6) Requirement—In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall not require a second meter for on-farm residential portions of rural projects connected to a power grid.”
in subsection (f)—
by striking “Not later” and inserting the following:
“(1) In general—Not later”
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(2) Subsequent report—Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of the Rural Energy Improvement Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on activities carried out under this section, including the outcomes achieved by projects funded under this section.”
in subsection (g)—
in paragraph (1)(D), by striking “2012” and inserting “2012 and for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018”; and
in paragraph (3)—
by striking “this section $25,000,000” and inserting
“(A) $25,000,000”
at the end of subparagraph (A) (as designated by clause (i)), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(B) $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.”