---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6371b"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6371b"
heading: "Preliminary energy audits and energy audits"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6371b"
units:
  - "Chapter 77 — Energy Conservation"
  - "Subchapter III — Improving Energy Efficiency"
  - "Part E — Energy Conservation Program for Schools and Hospitals"
---

# §6371b. Preliminary energy audits and energy audits

- (a) **Application by Governor—** The [Governor](/usc/42/6371.md?p=21) of any [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4) may apply to the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) at such time as the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) may specify after promulgation of guidelines under [section 6371a(a) of this title](/usc/42/6371a.md?p=a) for grants to conduct [preliminary energy audits](/usc/42/6371.md?p=14) and [energy audits](/usc/42/6321.md?p=c-3) of [school facilities](/usc/42/6371.md?p=8) and [hospital facilities](/usc/42/6371.md?p=4) in such [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4) under this part.
- (b) **Grants for conduct of preliminary energy audits—** Upon application under [subsection (a)](#a) the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) may make grants to [States](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4) for purposes of conducting [preliminary energy audits](/usc/42/6371.md?p=14) of [school facilities](/usc/42/6371.md?p=8) and [hospital facilities](/usc/42/6371.md?p=4) under this part in accordance with the guidelines prescribed under [section 6371a(a)(1) of this title](/usc/42/6371a.md?p=a-1). If a [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4) does not conduct [preliminary energy audits](/usc/42/6371.md?p=14) within two years after November 9, 1978, the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) may conduct such audits within such [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4).
- (c) **Grants for conduct of energy audits—** Upon application under [subsection (a)](#a) the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) may make grants to [States](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4) for purposes of conducting [energy audits](/usc/42/6321.md?p=c-3) of [school facilities](/usc/42/6371.md?p=8) and [hospital facilities](/usc/42/6371.md?p=4) under this part in accordance with the guidelines prescribed under [section 6371a(a)(2) of this title](/usc/42/6371a.md?p=a-2).
- (d) **Audits conducted prior to grant of financial assistance—** If a [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4) without the use of financial assistance under this section, conducts [preliminary energy audits](/usc/42/6371.md?p=14) or [energy audits](/usc/42/6321.md?p=c-3) which comply with the guidelines prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) or which are approved by the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) the funds allocated for purposes of this section shall be added to the funds available for [energy conservation projects](/usc/42/6371.md?p=15) for such [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4) and shall be in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes.
- (e) **Restriction on use of funds; grant covering total cost of energy audits—**
  - (1) Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#e-2), amounts made available under this section (together with any other amounts made available from other Federal sources) may not be used to pay more than 50 percent of the costs of any [preliminary energy audit](/usc/42/6371.md?p=14) or any [energy audit](/usc/42/6321.md?p=c-3).
  - (2) Upon the request of the [Governor](/usc/42/6371.md?p=21), the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) may make grants to a [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4) for up to 100 percent of the costs of any [preliminary energy audits](/usc/42/6371.md?p=14) and [energy audits](/usc/42/6321.md?p=c-3), subject to the requirements of [section 6371g(a)(3) of this title](/usc/42/6371g.md?p=a-3).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–163, title III, § 393, as added Pub. L. 95–619, title III, § 302(a), Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3242.)