AN ACT

 

1Amending the act of July 9, 2008 (1st Sp.Sess., P.L.1873, No.1),
2entitled "An act providing for alternative sources of energy;
3establishing the Alternative Energy Development Program, the
4Consumer Energy Program, the Home Energy Efficiency Loan
5Program, the Home Energy Efficiency Loan Fund and the
6Alternative Energy Production Tax Credit Program; and
7providing for the powers and duties of the Department of
8Environmental Protection," providing for the definition of
9"residential building"; and further providing for the
10Commonwealth Financing Authority.

11The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
12hereby enacts as follows:

13Section 1. Section 102 of the act of July 9, 2008 (1st 
14Sp.Sess., P.L.1873, No.1), known as the Alternative Energy 
15Investment Act, is amended by adding a definition to read:

16Section 102. Definitions.

17The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
18have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
19context clearly indicates otherwise:

20* * *

21"Residential building." A building containing at least one

1dwelling unit occupied by at least one tenant.

2* * *

3Section 2. Section 307(b) and (c) of the act are amended to
4read:

5Section 307. Commonwealth Financing Authority.

6* * *

7(b) Renewables.--The sum of [$25,000,000] $15,000,000 shall
8be allocated by the authority for loans or grants to projects
9related to geothermal technologies, including geothermal heat
10pump systems that use the ground, groundwater and underground
11mine water as a thermal energy source, or wind energy projects,
12including manufacturing facilities for wind turbines and other
13energy components.

14(c) High performance buildings.--

15(1) The sum of $25,000,000 shall be allocated by the
16authority for loans or grants to one of the following to meet
17energy efficient standards under paragraph (2):

18(i) A [small] business, including a small business,
19for the construction or renovation of a building for the
20use of [the small] a business.

21(ii) An individual for the construction or
22renovation of a dwelling if the individual does or will
23occupy the dwelling as his primary residence.

24(iii) A business, including a small business, or an
25individual for the construction or renovation of a
26residential building.

27(2) The Department of General Services shall adopt
28standards for the certification of a high performance
29building under this act, to include the following:

30(i) Establishing high performance, nationally

1recognized categories to achieve the following:

2(A) Optimize the energy performance of
3buildings.

4(B) Increase the use of and demand for
5environmentally preferable building materials,
6furnishings and finishes.

7(C) Improve environmental quality and conserve
8natural resources in this Commonwealth.

9(D) Select appropriate sites.

10(E) Reduce pollutants and waste generation.

11(F) Other criteria as required by the Department
12of General Services.

13(ii) Requiring documentation to substantiate
14compliance with the guidelines.

15(iii) Requiring third-party, postconstruction review
16and verification.

17* * *

18Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.