---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 15977"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "15977"
heading: "Department of Energy transportation fuels from Illinois basin coal"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/15977"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter IV — Coal"
  - "Part B — Clean Power Projects"
---

# §15977. Department of Energy transportation fuels from Illinois basin coal

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall carry out a program to evaluate the commercial and technical viability of advanced technologies for the production of Fischer-Tropsch transportation fuels, and other transportation fuels, manufactured from Illinois basin coal, including the capital modification of existing facilities and the [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) of testing facilities under [subsection (b)](#b).
- (b) **Facilities—** For the purpose of evaluating the commercial and technical viability of different processes for producing Fischer-Tropsch transportation fuels, and other transportation fuels, from Illinois basin coal, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall support the use and capital modification of existing facilities and the [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) of new facilities at—
  - (1) Southern Illinois University Coal Research Center;
  - (2) University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research; and
  - (3) Energy Center at Purdue University.
- (c) **Gasification products test center—** In conjunction with the activities described in subsections [(a)](#a) and [(b)](#b), the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall construct a test center to evaluate and confirm liquid and gas products from syngas catalysis in order that the system has an output of at least 500 gallons of Fischer-Tropsch transportation fuel per day in a 24-hour operation.
- (d) **Milestones—**
  - (1) **Selection of processes—** Not later than 180 days after August 8, 2005, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall select processes for evaluating the commercial and technical viability of different processes of producing Fischer-Tropsch transportation fuels, and other transportation fuels, from Illinois basin coal.
  - (2) **Agreements—** Not later than 1 year after August 8, 2005, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall offer to enter into agreements—
    - (A) to carry out the activities described in this section, at the facilities described in [subsection (b)](#b); and
    - (B) for the capital modifications or [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) of the facilities at the locations described in [subsection (b)](#b).
  - (3) **Evaluations—** Not later than 3 years after August 8, 2005, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall begin, at the facilities described in [subsection (b)](#b), evaluation of the technical and commercial viability of different processes of producing Fischer-Tropsch transportation fuels, and other transportation fuels, from Illinois basin coal.
  - (4) **Construction of facilities—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall construct the facilities described in [subsection (b)](#b) at the lowest cost practicable.
    - (B) **Grants or agreements—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) may make grants or enter into agreements or contracts with the institutions of higher education described in [subsection (b)](#b).
- (e) **Cost sharing—** The cost of making grants under this section shall be shared in accordance with [section 16352 of this title](/usc/42/16352.md).
- (f) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $85,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2006 through 2010.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IV, § 417, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 756.)