Official Summary

3/29/2012--Introduced.Rural Energy Investment Act of 2012 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 regarding the biobased markets program to: (1) extend program funding through FY2017, (2) increase the number of categories of biobased products designated and individual b

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Official Summary

3/29/2012--Introduced.Rural Energy Investment Act of 2012 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 regarding the biobased markets program to:
(1) extend program funding through FY2017,
(2) increase the number of categories of biobased products designated and individual biobased products eligible for preferred purchasing, and
(3) provide for a program of biobased product education and promotion activities. Amends the Rural Energy for America Program to:
(1) extend Program funding through FY2017;
(2) make nonprofit organizations eligible for assistance;
(3) provide loan guarantees and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy system purchases, with a tiered loan and grant application process that reflects project size; and
(4) permit the combined amount of a grant and a loan guarantee to cover all eligible activity costs. Extends funding through FY2017 for:
(1) biorefinery assistance,
(2) the biodiesel fuel education program,
(3) biomass research and development,
(4) the Rural Energy Self-Sufficiency Initiative,
(5) the biomass crop assistance program,
(6) the forest biomass for energy program, and
(7) the community wood energy program.

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