(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that, to the maximum extent feasible, loan moneys provided by the state to refiners of biofuels, also known as biorefiners, be awarded so as to increase the efficiency and environmental sustainability of biofuel production.

(b) In order to reduce the carbon intensity equivalent value of the fuel that biorefiners produce, biorefiners receiving loans from the commission’s California Ethanol Producer Incentive Program, established under the authority of this chapter, shall meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Within six months of acceptance to the program, biorefiners shall submit a draft plan to the commission that details one or more projects that can be undertaken at the biorefinery that are designed to achieve compliance with either of two biorefinery operational enhancement goals established by the commission.

(2) Within 12 months of acceptance to the program, biorefiners shall submit a detailed cost estimate for their target projects that can be undertaken at the biorefinery and that are designed to achieve compliance with the commission’s enhancement goals.

(3) Within 24 months of acceptance to the program, biorefiners shall complete and obtain all of the necessary permits or negative declarations sufficient to allow the project to move forward with financing, major equipment purchases, and hiring if project approval is executed by the company’s officers.

(4) Within 36 months of acceptance to the program, biorefiners shall obtain all of the necessary financing and initiate construction for their project associated with their elected enhancement goal pathway.

(5) Within 48 months of acceptance to the program, biorefiners shall complete all modifications to the facility and begin modified operations that achieve compliance with either of the enhancement goal pathways selected by the project applicant.

(c) This section does not limit the commission’s ability to set more stringent guidelines for the California Ethanol Producer Incentive Program that further maximize the efficiency and environmental sustainability of biofuel production.

(d) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2013.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 183, Sec. 1. (AB 523) Effective January 1, 2013. Inoperative July 1, 2013, by its own provisions. Note: See related provisions in Section 44272.4.)