Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Renewable Energy for U.S. Territories Act”.
Renewable Energy for U.S. Territories Act
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a renewable energy grant program for territories of the United States, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Renewable energy grant program
Establishment— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a renewable energy program (in this section referred to as the “program”) under which the Secretary may award grants to covered entities to facilitate projects, in territories of the United States, described in subsection (c).
Applications— To be eligible for a grant under the program, a covered entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
Grant uses—
In general— A covered entity receiving a grant under the program may use grant funds for a project, in a territory of the United States—
to develop or construct a renewable energy system;
to carry out an activity to increase energy efficiency;
to develop or construct an energy storage system or device for—
a system developed or constructed under subparagraph (A); or
an activity carried out under subparagraph (B);
to develop or construct—
a smart grid; or
a microgrid; or
to train residents of the territory of the United States to develop, construct, maintain, or operate a renewable energy system.
Limitation— A covered entity receiving a grant under the program may not use grant funds to develop or construct a facility that generates electricity using energy derived from—
fossil fuels; or
nuclear power.
Technical assistance— The Secretary of Energy shall ensure that Department of Energy national laboratories offer to provide technical assistance to each covered entity carrying out a project assisted with a grant under the program.
Report— Not later than 2 years after the establishment of the program, and on an annual basis thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing—
an estimate of the amount of funds disbursed under the program;
an estimate of the energy conservation achieved as a result of the program;
a description of challenges encountered in implementing projects described in subsection (c)(1); and
recommendations as to additional legislative measures to increase the use of renewable energy in territories of the United States, as appropriate.
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
Sec. 3 GAO study and report
In general—
Study and report— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—
conduct a study regarding renewable energy and energy efficiency in territories of the United States; and
submit to Congress a report containing—
the findings of the study; and
related recommendations.
Components— The study conducted under paragraph (1) shall consider, in relation each territory of the United States, the potential—
to modify existing electric power systems to use renewable energy sources;
to expand the use of microgrids; and
to improve energy resiliency.
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 to carry out this section.
Sec. 4 Definitions
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
Covered entity— The term covered entity means a not-for-profit organization determined eligible by the Secretary of Agriculture for purposes of this Act.
Department of Energy national laboratories— The term Department of Energy national laboratories has the same meaning as the term “National Laboratory” under section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
Microgrid— The term microgrid means an electric system—
that serves the local community with a power generation and distribution system; and
that has the ability—
to disconnect from a traditional electric grid; and
to operate autonomously when disconnected.
Renewable energy; renewable energy system— The terms renewable energy and renewable energy system have the meanings given those terms in section 9001 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8101).
Smart grid— The term smart grid means an intelligent electric grid that uses digital communications technology, information systems, and automation to, while maintaining high system reliability—
detect and react to local changes in usage;
improve system operating efficiency; and
reduce spending costs.
Territory of the United States— The term “territory of the United States” means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.