§902. Loans by Secretary of Agriculture; investigations and reports

(a) The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and empowered to make loans in the several States and Territories of the United States for rural electrification and the furnishing of electric energy to persons in rural areas who are not receiving central station service and for the purpose of furnishing and improving electric and telephone service in rural areas, as provided in this chapter, and for the purpose of assisting electric borrowers to implement demand side management, energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems; to make, or cause to be made, studies, investigations, and reports concerning the condition and progress of the electrification of and the furnishing of adequate telephone service in rural areas in the several States and Territories; and to publish and disseminate information with respect thereto.

(b) By January 1, 1994, the Secretary shall issue interim regulations to implement the authority contained in subsection (a) of this section to make loans for the purpose of assisting electric borrowers to implement demand side management, energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems. If the regulations are not issued by January 1, 1994, the Secretary shall consider any demand side management, energy conservation, or renewable energy program, system, or activity that is approved by a State agency to be eligible for the loans.

(May 20, 1936, ch. 432, title I, §2, 49 Stat. 1363 ; Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 776, §§2, 3, 63 Stat. 948 ; Nov. 1, 1993, Pub. L. 103–129, §2(c)(1), 107 Stat. 1363 ; Oct. 13, 1994, Pub. L. 103–354, title II, §235(a)(2), (13), 108 Stat. 3220 , 3221.)

Amendments

1994-Pub. L. 103–354 substituted "Secretary of Agriculture" for "Administrator" in subsec. (a) and "Secretary" for "Administrator" in two places in subsec. (b).

1993-Pub. L. 103–129 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), substituted "electric and telephone service in rural areas, as provided in this chapter, and for the purpose of assisting electric borrowers to implement demand side management, energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems;" for "telephone service in rural areas, as hereinafter provided;", and added subsec. (b).

1949-Act Oct. 28, 1949, authorized loans to furnish and improve rural telephone service; and inserted "title I," in credit of act May 20, 1936.

Transfer of Functions

Functions of all officers, agencies, and employees of Department of Agriculture transferred, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Agriculture by 1953 Reorg. Plan No. 2, §1, eff. June 4, 1953, 18 F.R. 3219, 67 Stat. 633, set out as a note under section 2201 of this title.