SECTION 1. PURPOSE

This notice updates the procedures for the allocation of credits under the qualifying gasification project program of § 48B of the Internal Revenue Code and defines certain terms for purposes of § 48B. The purpose of the qualifying gasification project program is to consider and award certifications for qualified investment eligible for credits under § 48B to qualifying gasification project sponsors. To further this purpose, the method of allocation is being modified for allocation rounds after 2006. Under the modified method of allocation, the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) will rank a certified project relative to other certified projects and credits will be allocated to projects based on the DOE ranking. The modified allocation method will substantially favor projects that capture and sequester carbon dioxide emissions and will favor to a lesser extent projects optimized for future carbon dioxide capture.