The Secretary may, in accordance with the provisions of this section and such rules and regulations as he shall prescribe, make a loan (and may make a commitment to loan) to any person who owns or operates any existing electric powerplant converting to coal or other alternate fuel as its primary energy source after the effective date of this chapter for the purpose of financing the purchase and installation of one or more certified air pollution control devices for such electric powerplant.
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, but not to exceed $400,000,000 for fiscal year 1979 and $400,000,000 for fiscal year 1980. Authority granted to the Secretary under subsection (a) may be exercised only to the extent as may be provided in advance in appropriation Acts.