Section 1649.307 - Commonwealth Financing Authority(a) Projects.--(1) The sum of $165,000,000 from funds available to the authority under section 302(a) shall be allocated by the authority for grants or loans for the following programs: (i) Loans to businesses or nonprofit economic development organizations for clean energy projects.(ii) Loans or grants to political subdivisions for clean energy projects.(iii) Loans and grants to businesses or nonprofit economic development organizations for alternative energy production projects.(iv) Loans and grants to businesses, nonprofit economic development organizations or political subdivisions for site preparation.(2) A solar energy project, including solar thermal equipment, shall not be eligible for a loan or grant under this subsection.(b) Renewables.--The sum of $25,000,000 shall be allocated by the authority for loans or grants to projects related to geothermal technologies, including geothermal heat pump systems that use the ground, groundwater and underground mine water as a thermal energy source, or wind energy projects, including manufacturing facilities for wind turbines and other energy components.(c) High performance buildings.--(1) The sum of $25,000,000 shall be allocated by the authority for loans or grants to one of the following to meet energy efficient standards under paragraph (2): (i) A small business for the construction or renovation of a building for the use of the small business.(ii) An individual for the construction or renovation of a dwelling if the individual does or will occupy the dwelling as his primary residence.(2) The Department of General Services shall adopt standards for the certification of a high performance building under this act, to include the following:(i) Establishing high performance, nationally recognized categories to achieve the following:(A) Optimize the energy performance of buildings.(B) Increase the use of and demand for environmentally preferable building materials, furnishings and finishes.(C) Improve environmental quality and conserve natural resources in this Commonwealth.(D) Select appropriate sites.(E) Reduce pollutants and waste generation.(F) Other criteria as required by the Department of General Services.(ii) Requiring documentation to substantiate compliance with the guidelines.(iii) Requiring third-party, postconstruction review and verification.(d) Other solar projects.--The sum of $80,000,000 shall be allocated by the authority for grants and loans for alternative energy production projects related to solar energy.(e) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible to receive funds under this section, an applicant must provide the authority with the following: (1) A detailed description of the project, including the proposed use of funds and an explanation of how the project will fulfill the goals of this act.(2) Identification of the number of current employees and an estimate of any future employment opportunities.(3) The cost of the project.(4) A description of how the project will reduce the Commonwealth's reliance on nonrenewable energy.(5) Any other information required by the authority.(f) Eligibility of alternative energy production project.--In order to be eligible for funding under this chapter, an alternative energy production project shall have a useful life of at least four years and shall be located in this Commonwealth.(g) Limitation.--A grant or loan for a project under this section shall not exceed $30,000,000.(h) Project review.--The authority shall review and prepare an assessment of each application and determine which projects will best utilize and promote the use of alternative energy and promote energy conservation in this Commonwealth. Projects shall be awarded in accordance with 64 Pa.C.S. § 1512 (relating to board). The department or the Department of Community and Economic Development shall provide technical assistance as appropriate.(i) Reporting.--The authority shall provide an annual report to the chairman and minority chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the chairman and minority chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives by October 1, 2009, and October 1 of each year thereafter. The report shall be posted and maintained on the authority's official Internet website and shall include:(1) A list of all loans and grants approved and loans repaid during the previous fiscal year, including the name and address of each recipient, the amount of the loan or grant and a detailed description of each approved project.(2) The estimated energy benefits to date for all projects receiving funding during that fiscal year, including an explanation of the method used to arrive at the estimated savings.(3) Recommendations regarding any potential amendments to this act to include new energy technologies that provide alternative energy sources that encourage or promote energy independence.(4) A description of how the program will save energy in this Commonwealth.(j) Administrative assistance.--The Department of Community and Economic Development shall provide administrative support to the authority.(k) Administrative costs.--No more than 1% of funds allocated under this section shall be used by the authority for administrative costs. 2008, July 9, P.L. 1873, No. 1 (Spec. Sess. No. 1), § 307, imd. effective.