(a) Private activity bonds (as defined in Section 141(a) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, other than those described in Section 146(g) of the Internal Revenue Code) issued pursuant to this article, including bonds issued by the West Virginia public energy authority pursuant to subsection (11), section five, article one, chapter five-d of this code or under article eighteen, chapter thirty-one of this code, during any calendar year may not exceed the ceiling established by Section 146(d) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. It is hereby determined and declared as a matter of legislative finding: (i) That, in an attempt to promote economic revitalization of distressed urban and rural areas, certain special tax incentives will be provided for empowerment zones and enterprise communities to be designated from qualifying areas nominated by state and local governments, all as set forth by Section 1391, et seq., of the United States Internal Revenue Code; (ii) that qualified businesses operating in enterprise communities and empowerment zones will be eligible to finance property and provide other forms of financial assistance as provided for in Section 1394 of the United States Internal Revenue Code; and (iii) that it is in the best interest of this state and its citizens to facilitate the acquisition, construction and equipping of projects within designated empowerment zones and enterprise communities by providing an orderly mechanism for the commitment of the annual ceiling for private activity bonds for these projects. It is hereby further determined and declared as a matter of legislative finding: (i) That the production of bituminous coal in this state has resulted in coal waste which is stored in areas generally referred to as gob piles; (ii) that gob piles are unsightly and have the potential to pollute the environment in this state; (iii) that the utilization of the materials in gob piles to produce alternative forms of energy needs to be encouraged; (iv) that Section 142(a)(6) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 permits the financing of solid waste disposal facilities through the issuance of private activity bonds; and (v) that it is in the best interest of this state and its citizens to facilitate the construction of facilities for the generation of power through the utilization of coal waste by providing an orderly mechanism for the commitment of the annual ceiling for private activity bonds for these projects.
(b) On or before the first day of each calendar year, the Executive Director of the Development Office shall determine the state ceiling for the year based on the criteria of the United States Internal Revenue Code. The annual ceiling shall be allocated among the several issuers of bonds under this article or under article eighteen, chapter thirty-one of this code as follows:
(1) For the calendar year two thousand one, $50 million and for each subsequent calendar year, forty percent of the state ceiling for that year shall be allocated to the West Virginia Housing Development Fund for the purpose of issuing qualified mortgage bonds, qualified mortgage certificates or bonds for qualified residential rental projects;