42 U.S.C. § 15891 — Projects enhancing insular energy independence

(a) Project feasibility studies. (1) In general: When properly requested, the Secretary must study whether a project can carry out a strategy identified in plans submitted to Congress under section 1492 of title 48 — a strategy that could either (A) significantly cut an insular area's reliance on imported fossil fuels, or (B) provide needed distributed power generation there. (2) Request: The Secretary must conduct the study when (A) an electric utility in the insular area asks for it and commits to pay at least 10 percent of the study's cost, and (B) if that utility is in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau, the President or that country's Ambassador also gives written support for the request. (3) Consultation: The Secretary must consult regional utility organizations both when conducting these studies and when deciding whether a potential project is feasible. (4) Feasibility: A project counts as feasible if it would significantly cut fossil fuel dependence, or provide needed distributed generation, at a reasonable cost. (b) Implementation. (1) In general: Once the Secretary (consulting with the Secretary of the Interior) decides a project is feasible, and the electric utility commits to operate and maintain it, the Secretary may give whatever technical and financial assistance is appropriate to carry it out. (2) Regional utility organizations: The Secretary should consider delivering that assistance through regional utility organizations. (c) Authorization of appropriations. (1) In general: Congress authorized $500,000 each fiscal year for feasibility studies under subsection (a), and $4,000,000 each fiscal year for implementation under subsection (b). (2) Limitation of funds received by insular areas: No single insular area can receive more than 20 percent of the total money made available under those two categories in any 3-year period — unless the Secretary decides giving more would better serve this section's goals.