(a) Applicant means any individual, partnership, cooperative or corporation applying for financial assistance under the program.

(b) Department means the Department of Economic Development.

(c) Financing institution means any domestic insurance company, not-for-profit corporation, bank, trust company, savings bank, savings and loan association or credit union incorporated, chartered, organized or licensed under the laws of New York State, any other state of the United States or the Federal government. This term also includes any public authority, public benefit corporation, or municipality which provides program assistance to program recipients.

(d) Program shall mean the New York State Agricultural Wastewater Energy Conservation Loan Program.

(e) Program assistance means a loan made by the department or an interest subsidy, principal reduction or loan guarantee provided by the department for a loan made by a financing institution.

(f) Program recipient means an applicant approved by the department for program assistance.

(g) Technical feasibility study means a report which identifies and analyzes in detail cost- effective capital improvements constituting the wastewater treatment project which the applicant proposes to implement.

(h) Wastewater treatment project or project means the acquisition, construction, alteration, repair or improvement of a building, fixtures, machinery or equipment constituting a facility, which provides treatment of wastewater to improve its quality and which reduces energy consumption.