Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Virgin Islands Energy Crisis Relief Act”.
Virgin Islands Energy Crisis Relief Act
A BILL
To provide energy crisis relief to residents of the Virgin Islands.
Sec. 2 High energy costs assistance
Section 19 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 918a) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(c) High Energy Cost Grant to the Water and Power Authority of the United States Virgin Islands
“(1) In general—The Secretary, acting through the Rural Utilities Service, shall make a grant in an amount equal to $100,000,000 to the Water and Power Authority of the United States Virgin Islands under subection (a)(1) if that entity applies for, and is eligible for, such a grant.
“(2) Appropriation
“(A) In general—Out of any funds in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for fiscal year 2013 such sums as may be necessary for the grant provided for in paragraph (1), in addition to any other appropriated funds that may be used for the grant.
“(B) Availability—Amounts made available under subparagraph (A) shall remain available through fiscal year 2015.
“(d) Territories included—In this section, the term “State” includes Territory.”
Sec. 3 Economic adjustment assistance
In general— The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to make grants under section 209 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3199) to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority for programs and activities to convert base power production in the Virgin Islands from fuel oil to liquefied natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas.
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section a total of $15,000,000 for fiscal years 2013 through 2017.
Sec. 4 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
With respect to fiscal years 2013 through 2018, the percentage described in section 2605(b)(2)(B)(i) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)(B)(i)) shall be 300 percent when applied to households located in the Virgin Islands.