Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Heat pump Energy Assistance and Training Act” or the “HEAT Act”.
Heat pump Energy Assistance and Training Act
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program to provide support on the use of industrial heat pumps, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
Industrial heat pump— The term industrial heat pump means a vapor compression device that transforms low grade production waste heat by increasing the temperature of air or process fluid, such as water, to meet the heating needs of agricultural, industrial, or commercial processes.
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
Sec. 3 Industrial heat pump program
Establishment— The Secretary shall establish a working group to coordinate activities carried out by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Rural Utilities Service, the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture—
to build awareness of the use of industrial heat pumps;
to create materials for and provide technical support to farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses relating to—
the use of industrial heat pumps; and
the availability of Federal programs to assist in the adoption to using industrial heat pumps;
to support an improved technical understanding of the opportunities for and applications of industrial heat pumps in the agricultural experiment station network at land-grant colleges and universities, for the purpose of providing training and assistance to State-level programs serving farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses;
to increase knowledge of industrial heat pump applications and benefits for rural utilities to support applications of industrial heat pumps for farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses; and
to support education on and awareness of industrial heat pump opportunities, applications, and benefits among extension specialists and extension agents.
Coordination— The Secretary is encouraged to coordinate with the Department of Energy with respect to the implementation of industrial heat pump programs.
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
Sec. 4 Rural Energy for America Program
Section 9007(c)(1)(A) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107(c)(1)(A)) is amended—
in clause (i)(II), by inserting “, including to purchase and install industrial heat pumps (as defined in section 2(a) of the Heat pump Energy Assistance and Training Act)” before “; and”; and
in clause (ii), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking “processing” and inserting “processing, including industrial heat pumps (as so defined),”.
Sec. 5 Reporting
In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing progress made in building awareness, creating materials, and providing support for farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses under this Act and the amendments made by this Act.
Inclusions— The report under subsection (a) shall include—
an identification of important applications of industrial heat pumps in rural markets;
an assessment of the level of awareness of industrial heat pumps by key market actors, including Department of Agriculture program staff, heat pump suppliers, and rural utilities;
the number of applications to the Rural Energy for America Program established under section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107) and the Rural Energy Savings Program established under section 6407 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 8107a) for measures incorporating the installation of industrial heat pumps;
the number of loans and grants provided under the Rural Energy for America Program established under section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107) and the Rural Energy Savings Program established under section 6407 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 8107a) for measures incorporating the installation of industrial heat pumps; and
a description of the barriers to adoption of industrial heat pumps in rural markets.