Transition to alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2) Alternative fuel commercial fishing vessel The term alternative fuel commercial fishing vessel means a commercial fishing vessel that runs on an energy source other than an energy source that is exclusively derived from petroleum, including a hybrid energy source. (3) Commercial fishing vessel The term commercial fishing vessel has the meaning given the term fishing vessel in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code. (4) Necessary shoreside infrastructure The term necessary shoreside infrastructure means shoreside infrastructure necessary to facilitate the transition of commercial fishing vessels to alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels, including charging stations for electric alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels and refueling stations for alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels. (5) Pilot program The term pilot program means the pilot program established under subsection (b)(1). (b) Pilot program (1) Establishment Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall establish a pilot program to facilitate the transition of United States-flagged commercial fishing vessels to alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels. (2) Use of funds In carrying out the pilot program, the Administrator may make loans— (A) to facilitate the transition from commercial fishing vessels using energy sources exclusively derived from petroleum to alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels, including loans for the building of new alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels or retrofitting existing commercial fishing vessels into alternative fuel commercial fishing vessels; and (B) for research and development of alternative fuel technologies for commercial fishing vessels and necessary shoreside infrastructure. (3) Regulations Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator and the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall each promulgate regulations necessary for the implementation of the pilot program. (c) Study Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, jointly with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall carry out, and submit to Congress a report describing the results of, a study on— (1) methods to further develop alternative fuels for use with commercial fishing vessels; (2) how to improve existing alternative fuel technologies in commercial fishing vessels; (3) the fuel sources available for commercial fishing vessels, and the limitations of those fuel sources; and (4) opportunities for the use of hybrid technologies in commercial fishing vessels. (d) Authorizations of appropriations (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out subsection (b). (2) Allocation of funding Of the amounts made available under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year— (A) not less than $10,000,000 shall be used to make loans described in subsection (b)(2)(A); and (B) not less than $10,000,000 shall be used to make loans described in subsection (b)(2)(B).