42 U.S.C. § 17233 — Energy storage technology and microgrid assistance program
submitted 6 years ago by Pub. L. 116-260 to r/title-42-THE-PUBLIC-HEALTH-AND-WELFARE · 879 words · no verdicts yet
This section establishes grants, technical assistance, and information-sharing for eligible entities working on renewable-energy storage and microgrid projects. It also sets grant conditions, cost sharing, and funding limits.
(a) Definitions: (1) "Eligible entity" means (A) a rural electric cooperative; (B) an agency, authority, or instrumentality of a State* or political subdivision of a State that sells or otherwise uses electrical energy to provide electric services for customers; or (C) a nonprofit organization working with at least 6 entities described in (A) or (B). (2) "Energy storage technology" includes grid-enabled water heaters, building heating or cooling systems, electric vehicles, producing hydrogen for transportation or industrial use, and other technologies that store energy. (3) "Microgrid" means a localized grid that operates autonomously whether or not it can operate in connection with another grid. (4) "Renewable energy source" has the meaning given in 7 U.S.C. 918c(a). (5) "Rural electric cooperative" means an electric cooperative as defined in 16 U.S.C. 796 that sells electric energy to people in rural areas. (6) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Energy.
(b) General program: Within 180 days after December 27, 2020, the Secretary must establish a program to (1) provide grants under (d); (2) provide technical assistance under (e); and (3) give eligible entities information about the activities under (d)(1) and (e), and about potential and existing storage and microgrid projects.
(c) Cooperative agreement: The Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with an eligible entity to carry out (b).
(d) Grants: (1) The Secretary may award grants to eligible entities to identify, evaluate, design, and demonstrate storage and microgrid projects using renewable energy. (2) An applicant must submit an application at the time, in the manner, and with the information the Secretary requires. (3) A recipient must use the grant for feasibility studies; strategies to overcome financial, contracting, siting, and permitting barriers; detailed engineering; cost-benefit analysis; short- and long-term planning for future development; or necessary equipment, materials, and supplies for emerging-technology demonstrations. It may use the grant for expert technical assistance. (4) As a condition, the recipient must run a coordinated public-awareness campaign stating projected environmental benefits, where to find program information, and other information the Secretary requires; report to the Secretary and the public on energy-cost savings, environmental benefits, and project* results, including practicable quantitative assessments of each activity; and create and share tools and resources for other rural electric cooperatives, such as calculators, guidebooks, handbooks, templates, and training courses. (5) Activities under this subsection must follow section 16352’s cost-sharing* requirements.
(e) Technical assistance: (1) The Secretary may assist eligible entities with identifying opportunities; understanding technical and economic characteristics; financing alternatives; permitting and siting; case studies of similar successful projects; computer software for assessment, design, operation, and maintenance; and reliability and resilience benefits. (2) The Secretary may contract with third-party experts, including engineering, finance, and insurance experts, for this assistance or other relevant activities.
(f) Authorization of appropriations: (1) Congress may appropriate $15 million for each fiscal year 2021–2025. (2) No more than 5 percent of each fiscal year’s appropriation may be used for administrative expenses.
In this section:
The term “eligible entity” means—
a rural electric cooperative;
an agency, authority, or instrumentality of a State* or political subdivision of a State that sells or otherwise uses electrical energy to provide electric services for customers; or
a nonprofit organization working with at least 6 entities described in subparagraph (A) or (B).
The term “energy storage technology” includes grid-enabled water heaters, building heating or cooling systems, electric vehicles, the production of hydrogen for transportation or industrial use, or other technologies that store energy.
The term “microgrid” means a localized grid that operates autonomously regardless of whether the grid can operate in connection with another grid.
The term “renewable energy source” has the meaning given the term in section 918c(a) of title 7.
The term “rural electric cooperative” means an electric cooperative (as defined in section 796 of title 16) that sells electric energy to persons in rural areas.
The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Energy.
Not later than 180 days after December 27, 2020, the Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall—
provide grants to eligible entities under subsection (d);
provide technical assistance to eligible entities under subsection (e); and
disseminate information to eligible entities on—
the activities described in subsections (d)(1) and (e); and
potential and existing energy storage technology and microgrid projects.
The Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with an eligible entity to carry out subsection (b).
The Secretary may award grants to eligible entities for identifying, evaluating, designing, and demonstrating energy storage technology and microgrid projects that utilize energy from renewable energy sources.
To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
An eligible entity that receives a grant under paragraph (1)—
shall use the grant—
to conduct feasibility studies to assess the potential for implementation or improvement of energy storage technology or microgrid projects;
to analyze and implement strategies to overcome barriers to energy storage technology or microgrid project* implementation, including financial, contracting, siting, and permitting barriers;
to conduct detailed engineering of energy storage technology or microgrid projects;
to perform a cost-benefit analysis with respect to an energy storage technology or microgrid project;
to plan for both the short- and long-term inclusion of energy storage technology or microgrid projects into the future development plans of the eligible entity; or
to purchase and install necessary equipment, materials, and supplies for demonstration of emerging technologies; and
may use the grant to obtain technical assistance from experts in carrying out the activities described in subparagraph (A).
As a condition of receiving a grant under paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall—
implement a public awareness campaign, in coordination with the Secretary, about the project implemented under the grant in the community in which the eligible entity is located, which campaign shall include providing projected environmental benefits achieved under the project, where to find more information about the program established under this section, and any other information the Secretary determines necessary;
submit to the Secretary, and make available to the public, a report that describes—
any energy cost savings and environmental benefits achieved under the project; and
the results of the project, including quantitative assessments to the extent practicable, associated with each activity described in paragraph (3)(A); and
create and disseminate tools and resources that will benefit other rural electric cooperatives, which may include cost calculators, guidebooks, handbooks, templates, and training courses.
Activities under this subsection shall be subject to the cost-sharing* requirements of section 16352 of this title.
In carrying out the program established under subsection (b), the Secretary may provide eligible entities with technical assistance relating to—
identifying opportunities for energy storage technology and microgrid projects;
understanding the technical and economic characteristics of energy storage technology or microgrid projects;
understanding financing alternatives;
permitting and siting issues;
obtaining case studies of similar and successful energy storage technology or microgrid projects;
reviewing and obtaining computer software for assessment, design, and operation and maintenance of energy storage technology or microgrid systems; and
understanding and utilizing the reliability and resiliency benefits of energy storage technology and microgrid projects.
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary may enter into contracts with third-party experts, including engineering, finance, and insurance experts, to provide technical assistance to eligible entities relating to the activities described in such paragraph, or other relevant activities, as determined by the Secretary.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
Not more than 5 percent of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year shall be used for administrative expenses.
Source credit: (Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title III, § 3202, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2525.)
- 2020Enacted · Pub. L. 116-260 · 134 Stat. 2525
A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 116-260 on 2020-12-27.
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