---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 18715a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "18715a"
heading: "Grants to facilitate the siting of interstate electricity transmission lines"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/18715a"
units:
  - "Chapter 162 — Energy Infrastructure"
  - "Subchapter I — Grid Infrastructure and Resiliency"
  - "Part A–1 — Electric Transmission"
---

# §18715a. Grants to facilitate the siting of interstate electricity transmission lines

- (a) **Appropriation—** In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3) for fiscal year 2022, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $760,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2029, for making grants in accordance with this section and for administrative expenses associated with carrying out this section.
- (b) **Use of funds—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3) may make a grant under this section to a siting authority for, with respect to a covered transmission [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), any of the following activities:
    - (A) Studies and analyses of the impacts of the covered transmission [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2).
    - (B) Examination of up to 3 alternate siting corridors within which the covered transmission [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) feasibly could be sited.
    - (C) Participation by the siting authority in regulatory proceedings or negotiations in another jurisdiction, or under the auspices of a Transmission Organization (as defined in [section 796 of title 16](/usc/16/796.md)) that is also considering the siting or permitting of the covered transmission [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2).
    - (D) Participation by the siting authority in regulatory proceedings at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or a [State](/usc/42/18791.md?p=3) regulatory commission for determining applicable rates and cost [allocation](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=2) for the covered transmission [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2).
    - (E) Other measures and actions that may improve the chances of, and shorten the time required for, approval by the siting authority of the application relating to the siting or permitting of the covered transmission [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), as the [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3) determines appropriate.
  - (2) **Economic development—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3) may make a grant under this section to a siting authority, or other [State](/usc/42/18791.md?p=3), local, or Tribal governmental entity, for economic development activities for communities that may be affected by the [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) and operation of a covered transmission [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), provided that the [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3) shall not enter into any grant agreement pursuant to this section that could result in any outlays after September 30, 2031.
- (c) **Conditions—**
  - (1) **Final decision on application—** In order to receive a grant for an activity described in [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1), the [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3) shall require a siting authority to agree, in writing, to reach a final decision on the application relating to the siting or permitting of the applicable covered transmission [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) not later than 2 years after the date on which such grant is provided, unless the [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3) authorizes an extension for good cause.
  - (2) **Federal share—** The Federal share of the cost of an activity described in subparagraph [(C)](#b-1-C) or [(D)](#b-1-D) of subsection (b)(1) shall not exceed 50 percent.
  - (3) **Economic development—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3) may only disburse grant funds for economic development activities under [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2)—
    - (A) to a siting authority upon approval by the siting authority of the applicable covered transmission [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2); and
    - (B) to any other [State](/usc/42/18791.md?p=3), local, or Tribal governmental entity upon commencement of [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) of the applicable covered transmission [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) in the area under the jurisdiction of the entity.
- (d) **Returning funds—** If a siting authority that receives a grant for an activity described in [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1) fails to use all grant funds within 2 years of receipt, the siting authority shall return to the [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3) any such unused funds.
- (e) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Covered transmission project—** The term “covered transmission [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2)” means a high-voltage interstate or offshore electricity transmission line—
    - (A) that is proposed to be constructed and to operate—
      - (i) at a minimum of 275 kilovolts of either alternating-current or direct-current electric energy by an entity; or
      - (ii) offshore and at a minimum of 200 kilovolts of either alternating-current or direct-current electric energy by an entity; and
    - (B) for which such entity has applied, or informed a siting authority of such entity’s intent to apply, for regulatory approval.
  - (2) **Siting authority—** The term “siting authority” means a [State](/usc/42/18791.md?p=3), local, or Tribal governmental entity with authority to make a final determination regarding the siting, permitting, or regulatory status of a covered transmission [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) that is proposed to be located in an area under the jurisdiction of the entity.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–169, title V, § 50152, Aug. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 2046.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of Pub. L. 117–169, and not as part of div. D of Pub. L. 117–58, which enacted this chapter.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Definitions

For definitions of “Secretary” and “State” as used in this section, see section 50111 of Pub. L. 117–169, set out as a note under section 17113b of this title.