Community Health and Clean Transit Act of 2018

the term covered loan means a direct loan made by the Secretary under section 4;

the term electric bus means a bus that is a zero emission vehicle (as defined in section 5339(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code) that is fully battery-powered;

the term eligible entity means an eligible recipient, as described in section 5339(a)(4) of title 49, United States Code;

the term eligible project has the meaning given the term in section 5339(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, except that that definition shall be applied by substituting “electric buses” for “low or no emission vehicles”;

the term eligible project cost—

the term Secretary, except as otherwise provided in this Act, means the Secretary of Transportation; and

the term subsidy amount means the amount of budget authority sufficient to cover the estimated long-term cost to the Federal Government of a covered loan—

In general— An eligible entity desiring a covered loan shall submit to the Secretary an application that—

Link to low or no emission bus and bus facilities grant applications— The Secretary shall establish a procedure under which an eligible entity that submits an application under section 5339(c) of title 49, United States Code, for a grant relating to a low or no emission bus or bus facility may amend the application and be considered for a covered loan under this Act without having to submit a separate application under this section.

Guidance and best practices— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall develop and publish on the website of the Department of Energy guidance on best practices for transit districts to enter into innovative relationships with public utilities and bus manufacturers to incorporate into operations and financing of electric buses and infrastructure—

In general— A covered loan—

Term of loan— The Secretary may provide a covered loan only if the final maturity date of the covered loan is not later than the date on which the electric bus acquired using the covered loan is expected to exceed its useful life, based on the average life expectancy of the electric bus.

Buy America— Section 5323(j) of title 49, United States Code, shall apply with respect to a project funded using a covered loan in the same manner as to a project funded using amounts appropriated to carry out chapter 53 of such title 49.

Non-Federal share for low-No grants— The proceeds of a covered loan may be used for any non-Federal share of project costs required under section 5339(c) of title 49, United States Code, if the covered loan is repayable from non-Federal funds.

Commencement— Scheduled repayments of principal on a covered loan provided to an eligible entity shall commence not later than 180 days after the date on which the eligible entity places in revenue service the electric bus and necessary infrastructure that were acquired using the covered loan.

Prepayment— An eligible entity may make repayments on a covered loan in advance of the scheduled repayment date with no penalty.

Delinquency— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if an eligible entity fails to make a scheduled repayment on a covered loan, the Secretary may withhold from the eligible entity an equivalent amount of any assistance that would otherwise be provided to the eligible entity under a formula grant program under chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code.

In general— There is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of the first 5 fiscal years beginning after the date of enactment of this Act for the subsidy amount of covered loans.

Administrative costs— There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary for the administrative cost of providing covered loans.