Department of Energy March 12, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Section 136 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, as amended, provides for grants and loans to eligible automobile manufacturers and component suppliers for projects that reequip, expand, and establish manufacturing facilities in the United States to produce light-duty vehicles and components for such vehicles, which provide meaningful improvements in fuel economy performance beyond certain specified levels. Section 136 also provides that grants and loans may cover engineering integration costs associated with such projects. The program established by section 136 is referred to as the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program. This notice announces that DOE has determined to change the previously announced process for submission of applications for a loan under section 136. Henceforth, DOE will consider and evaluate substantially complete applications as and when they are submitted and may make decisions on such applications and close loans with respect to such applications at any time.