Section § 25650

Explanation

This law outlines how funds from loan repayments and interest, related to loans given for agricultural energy assistance, should be handled. These funds are to be deposited into a specific account and can be used for new loans and technical assistance, but only if budgeted properly, and up to 20% of the funds each year can be used specifically for technical assistance.

The loans should be used to buy equipment and services that improve agricultural energy efficiency, such as implementing technologies for methane or ethanol production, using renewable energy sources like wind or solar power for irrigation, or enhancing water pumping techniques.

The repayment terms for these loans must not exceed seven years, and the interest rate should be at least 2% lower than the rate from another state-held money account.

(a)CA Public Resources Code § 25650(a) All funds from loan repayments and interest that become due and payable for loans made by the commission pursuant to an agriculture energy assistance program shall be deposited in the Energy Technologies Research, Development, and Demonstration Account, and shall be available for loans and technical assistance pursuant to this section, upon appropriation in the Budget Act. Up to 20 percent of the annual appropriation may be available for technical assistance.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 25650(b) Loans made pursuant to this section shall be for the purchase of equipment and services for agriculture energy efficiency and development demonstration projects, including, but not limited to, production of methane or ethanol, use of wind, photovoltaics, and other sources of energy for irrigation pumping, application of load management conservation techniques, improvements in water pumping and pressurization techniques, and conservation tillage techniques.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 25650(c) The loans shall contain terms that provide for a repayment period of not more than seven years and for interest at a rate that is not less than 2 percent below the rate earned by moneys in the Pooled Money Investment Account.