118 S2242 IS: Safeguarding Domestic Energy Production and Independence Act of 2023 U.S. Senate 2023-07-11 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II118th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2242IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJuly 11, 2023Mr. Casey (for himself and Mr. Coons) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public WorksA BILLTo amend the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to make available for sale renewable fuel credits, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Safeguarding Domestic Energy Production and Independence Act of 2023.

2.

Renewable fuel cost containment credits

Section 211(o)(7) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(7)) is amended by adding at the end the following:(G)

Conventional biofuel

(i)

Conventional biofuel waiver credits

(I)

In general

The Administrator shall make available for sale renewable fuel credits to any person with a renewable volume obligation under paragraph (2) at a price of not more than $0.20 per credit.(II)

Adjustments for inflation

As determined appropriate by the Administrator, the price referred to in subclause (I) shall be adjusted for inflation.(ii)

Use of credits

A renewable fuel credit sold under this paragraph—(I)shall only be used for the purpose of complying with the requirement under paragraph (2) for the year for which the credit was sold; and(II)may not—(aa)be resold or transferred to another person; or(bb)be used to fulfill the cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, or advanced biofuel requirements under paragraph (2).(iii)

Use of revenues

Revenues from the sale of renewable fuel credits under this subparagraph shall be allocated in accordance with the following:(I)1/3 shall be made available to the Administrator to provide grants and technical assistance to any person with a renewable volume obligation under paragraph (2) and partners of those persons for purposes of supporting investments in advanced biofuels.(II)1/3 shall be made available to the Secretary of Agriculture to provide financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers for voluntary investments in alternative crops and diversified cropping systems. (III)1/3 shall be deposited into the Habitat and Wildlife Restoration Fund established by clause (iv)(I).(iv)

Habitat and Wildlife Restoration Fund

(I)

Establishment

There is established in the Treasury a fund, to be known as the Habitat and Wildlife Restoration Fund (referred to in this subparagraph as the Fund).(II)

Amounts

The Fund shall consist of—(aa)amounts deposited in the Fund under clause (iii)(III); and(bb)any amounts appropriated to the Fund.(III)

Uses

(aa)

In general

Amounts in the Fund shall be available, without further appropriation, to the Secretary of the Interior, acting in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, for existing programs, the purposes of which are to protect, conserve, or restore the types of habitat and wildlife that are most impacted by the conversion of native habitat to crop production, including grasslands, wetlands, forests, and adjacent waterways in areas that have experienced significant expansion of corn and soy production since January 1, 2007.(bb)

Agreement

The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly enter into an agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to cooperatively manage amounts in the Fund in accordance with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.)..