(a) Authority to make loans
The Secretary may, in accordance with the provisions of this section and such rules and regulations as he shall prescribe, make a loan (and may make a commitment to loan) to any person who owns or operates any existing electric powerplant converting to coal or other alternate fuel as its primary energy source after the effective date of this chapter for the purpose of financing the purchase and installation of one or more certified air pollution control devices for such electric powerplant.
(b) Limitations and conditions
A loan made under this section shall—
(1) not exceed two-thirds of the cost of purchasing and installing the certified air pollution control devices;
(2) have a maturity date not extending beyond 10 years after the date such loan is made;
(3) bear interest at a rate not less than (A) a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, taking into consideration the average market yield of outstanding Treasury obligations of comparable maturity, plus (B) 1 percent;
(4) be made on the condition of payment to the Secretary of a loan fee in an amount equal to (A) such insurance fee as the Secretary determines is necessary to avoid a Federal revenue loss under this section, plus (B) 1 percent of the loan amount; and
(5) be made only if the Secretary finds that—
(A) the financial assistance applied for is not otherwise available from other Federal agencies;
(B) the applicant is unable to obtain sufficient funds on reasonable terms and conditions from any other source;
(C) there is continued reasonable assurance of full repayment of the principal, interest, and fees; and
(D) competition among private entities for the provision of air pollution control devices for electric powerplants using coal as their primary energy source to be assisted under this section will be in no way limited or precluded.
(c) Allocation and priorities
In making loans or commitments to loan pursuant to this section, the Secretary shall—
(1) allocate a minimum of 25 percent of available financial assistance to existing small municipal and rural powerplants; and
(2) give priority consideration to requests for financial assistance by existing electric powerplants subject to any prohibition under subchapter III (or under section
792 of title 15).
(d) Definitions
For purposes of this section—
(1) The term "certified pollution control device" means a new identifiable device which—
(A) is used, in connection with a powerplant, to abate or control atmospheric pollution by removing, altering, disposing, storing, or preventing the emission of pollutants;
(B) the appropriate State air pollution control agency has certified to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency that such device is needed to meet, and is in conformity with, State requirements for abatement or control of atmospheric pollution or contamination;
(C) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency has certified to the Secretary as not duplicating or displacing existing air pollution control devices with a remaining useful economic life in excess of 2 years and as otherwise being in furtherance of the requirements and purposes of the Clean Air Act [42 U.S.C.
7401 et seq.];
(D) does not constitute or include a building, or a structural component of a building, other than a building used exclusively for the purposes set forth in subparagraph (A); and
(E) the construction of which began after the effective date of this chapter.
(2) The term "small municipal or rural cooperative electric powerplant" means an electric generating unit, which—
(A) by design is not capable of consuming fuel at a fuel heat input rate in excess of a rate determined appropriate by the Secretary by rule; and
(B) is owned or operated by a municipality or a rural electric cooperative.
(e) Records
(1) The Secretary shall require all persons receiving financial assistance under this section to keep such records as the Secretary shall prescribe, including records which fully disclose the amount and disposition by such recipient of the proceeds of such assistance, the total cost of the project or undertaking in connection with which such assistance was given or used, the amount of that portion of the cost of the project or undertaking supplied by other sources, and such other records as will facilitate an effective audit.
(2) The Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall, until the later of—
(A) the expiration of 3 years after completion of the project or undertaking referred to in subsection (a), or
(B) full repayment of interest and principal on a loan made under this section, occurs,
have access for the purposes of audit, evaluation, examination to any books, documents, papers, and records of such receipts which in the opinion of the Secretary or the Comptroller General may be related or pertinent to such loan.
(f) Default
(1) If there is a default in any payment by the obligor of interest or principal due under a loan entered into by the Secretary under this section and such default has continued for 90 days, the Secretary has the right to demand payment of such unpaid amount, unless the Secretary finds that such default has been remedied, or a satisfactory plan to remedy such default by the obligor has been accepted by the Secretary.
(2) In demanding payment of unpaid interest or principal by the obligor, the Secretary has all rights specified in the loan-related agreements with respect to any security which he held with respect to the loan, including the authority to complete, maintain, operate, lease, sell, or otherwise dispose of any property acquired pursuant to such loan or related agreements.
(3) If there is a default under any loan, the Secretary shall notify the Attorney General who shall take such action against the obligator or other parties liable thereunder as is, in his discretion, necessary to protect the interests of the United States. The holder of such loan shall make available to the United States all records and evidence necessary to prosecute any such suit.
(g) Deposit of receipts
Amounts received by the Secretary as principal, interest, fees, proceeds from security acquired following default, or other amounts received by the Secretary in connection with loans made under this section shall be paid into the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.
(h) Authorization of appropriation
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, but not to exceed $400,000,000 for fiscal year 1979 and $400,000,000 for fiscal year 1980. Authority granted to the Secretary under subsection (a) may be exercised only to the extent as may be provided in advance in appropriation Acts.