Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 90 Part 1.djvu/1213

 PUBLIC LAW 94-385—AUG. 14, 1976

90 STAT. 1163

approved renewable-resource energy measures in existing dweUiiig units. The Secretary shall carry out such demonstration program with a view toward recommending a national program or programs designed to reduce significantly the consumption of energy in existing dwelling units. "(b) The Secretary is authorized to make financial assistance avail- Financial able pursuant to this section in the form of grants, low-interest-rate assistance. loans, interest subsidies, loan guarantees, and such other forms of assistance as the Secretary deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section. Assistance may be made available to both owners of dwelling units and tenants occupying such units. "(c) In carrying out the demonstration program lequired by this section, the Secretary shall— "(1) provide assistance in a wide variety of geographic areas to reflect differences in climate, types of dwelling units, and income levels of recipients in order to provide a national profile for use in designing a program which is to be operational and effective nationwide; "(2) evaluate the appropriateness of various financial incentives for different income levels of owners and occupants of existing dwelling units; "(3) take into account and evaluate any other financial assistance which may be available for the installation or implementation of energy conservation and renewable-resource energy measures; "(4) make use of such State and local instrumentalities or other public or private entities as may be appropriate in carrying out the purposes of this section in coordination with the provisions of part C of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act; 42 USC 6321. "(5) consider, with respect to various forms of assistance and procedures for their application, (A) the extent to which energy conservation measures and renewable-resource energy measures are encouraged which would otherwise not have been undertaken, (B) the minimum amount of Federal subsidy necessary to achieve the objectives of a national program, (C) the costs of administering the assistance, (D) the extent to which the assistance may be encumbered by delays, redtape, and uncertainty as to its availability with respect to any particular applicant, (E) the factors which may prevent the assistance from being available in certain areas or for certain classes of persons, and (F) the extent to which fraudulent practices can be prevented; and " (6) consult with the Administrator and the heads of such other Federal agencies as may be appropriate. " (d)(1) The amount of any grant made pursuant to this section shall not exceed the lesser of— Grant limitations. "(A) with respect to an approved energy conservation measure, (i) $400, or (ii) 20 per centum of the cost of installing or otherwise implementing such measure; and " (B) with respect to an approved renewable-resource energy measure, (i) $2,000, or (ii) 25 per centum of the cost of installing or otherwise implementing such measure. The Secretary may, by rule, mcrease such percentages and amounts Rule. in the case of an applicant whose annual gross family income for the preceding taxable year is less than the median family income for the housing market area in which the dwelling unit which is to be modified by such measure is located, as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary may also modify the limitations specified in this paragraph if necessary in order to achieve the purposes of this section.

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