The authority shall have all of the following powers:

(1) To adopt an official seal and alter the same at its pleasure.

(2) To sue and be sued in contract and in tort and to complain and defend in all courts of law and equity.

(3) To maintain an office at such place or places as it may designate.

(4) To borrow money and to issue bonds for the purpose of making equipment loans to educational institutions to finance equipment costs, and to provide for the rights of the purchasers, holders, or owners of such bonds.

(5) To make equipment loans to any public educational institution in order to finance equipment costs, which equipment loans may be evidenced or secured by loan agreements, promissory notes, security agreements, trust indentures, or such other instruments, and upon such terms and conditions as the board of directors of the authority shall determine to be reasonable.

(6) To arrange for various forms of security or credit enhancement for its bonds, including letters of credit, guaranties, policies of insurance, and the like.

(7) As security for the payment of the principal of and interest on any equipment loan made to a public educational institution, to take a pledge of and security interest in a. the proceeds of any ad valorem tax voted under the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, for school purposes generally, and paid, apportioned, or allocated to or for the benefit of such educational institution, b. the proceeds of any privilege, license, or excise tax or taxes that may be paid, apportioned, or allocated to or for the benefit of such educational institution, c. the fees from students levied or to be levied by or for such educational institution, or d. any other moneys or revenues received by such educational institution not appropriated by the state to such institution.

(8) As security for the payment of the principal of and interest on its bonds, to pledge the revenues, receipts, funds, and other property out of which the equipment loans made with the proceeds of its bonds are payable and to pledge, transfer, and assign any repayment obligations of equipment loan recipients.

(9) To invest proceeds of the bonds of the authority not required for immediate use in such manner as the board of directors shall determine.

(10) To establish accounts in one or more depositories.

(11) To make, enter into, and execute such financing agreements, loan agreements, contracts, or other instruments and to take such other actions as may be necessary or convenient to accomplish any purpose for which the authority was organized or to exercise any power granted to it.

(12) To charge to and apportion among participating educational institutions the administrative costs and expenses incurred by the authority in the exercise of the powers and duties conferred upon it by this chapter.

(13) To pledge or mortgage all or any portion of any equipment conveyed to the authority for such purpose, whether presently owned or subsequently acquired, for the benefit of the holders of the bonds of the authority issued to finance such equipment or any portion thereof or issued to refund or refinance outstanding indebtedness of an educational institution permitted by this chapter.

(14) To issue bonds for the purpose of refunding or refinancing outstanding bonds issued pursuant to this chapter or outstanding obligations incurred by educational institutions for the purpose of financing the acquisition or leasing of equipment, whether or not such bonds or other obligations are outstanding prior to or after May 12, 1997, provided that such indebtedness was originally incurred for the purpose of acquiring or leasing equipment as defined in this chapter.

(15) To exercise any power granted by the laws of the state to public or private corporations which is not in conflict with the purpose of this chapter.

(16) To adopt and promulgate administrative regulations necessary or appropriate to effectuate its purpose and to designate the Alabama Commission on Higher Education as administrator of the program authorized herein.

(17) To maintain and prepare an annual report on the program for review by the Legislature and the Governor.