42 U.S.C. § 15823 — Low income community energy efficiency pilot program

(a) Grants. The Secretary can make grants to units of local government, private nonprofit community development organizations, and Indian tribe economic development entities. The money helps improve energy efficiency, develop alternative, renewable, and distributed energy supplies, and boost energy conservation in low-income rural and urban communities. (b) Purpose of grants. The Secretary can award these grants competitively for: (1) investments that develop alternative, renewable, and distributed energy supplies; (2) energy efficiency projects and conservation programs; (3) studies and other work that improves energy efficiency in low-income communities; (4) help planning and developing more energy-efficient buildings and facilities; and (5) technical and financial help for local governments and private groups developing new renewable or distributed power sources, or combined heat and power systems. (c) Definition. "Indian tribe" means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community — including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation defined under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act — that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services the United States provides to Indians because of their status as Indians. (d) Authorization of appropriations. Congress authorized $20,000,000 for this section for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2008.