42 U.S.C. § 18715a — Grants to facilitate the siting of interstate electricity transmission lines

(a) Appropriation. Congress appropriates the Secretary^* $760,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, usable through September 30, 2029, for grants under this section and related administrative expenses.

(b) Use of funds. (1) The Secretary may give a siting authority a grant, for a "covered transmission project^*," to pay for: (A) studies and analyses of the project's impacts; (B) examining up to 3 alternate siting corridors the project could feasibly use; (C) taking part in another jurisdiction's regulatory proceedings or negotiations, including at a Transmission Organization also considering the project's siting or permitting; (D) taking part in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or state^* proceedings that set applicable rates and cost allocation; and (E) other measures the Secretary decides could improve the chances of, or shorten the time needed for, the siting authority approving the project. (2) The Secretary may also give a grant to a siting authority, or another State, local, or Tribal government body, for economic development in communities that may be affected by building and running a covered transmission project — but the Secretary cannot sign a grant agreement under this paragraph that could result in payments after September 30, 2031.

(c) Conditions. (1) To get a grant for activities in subsection (b)(1), the siting authority must agree in writing to reach a final decision on the project's application within 2 years of receiving the grant, unless the Secretary allows an extension for good cause. (2) The federal share of costs for activities described in subsection (b)(1)(C) or (D) cannot exceed 50%. (3) Economic-development grant funds under subsection (b)(2) may only be paid out (A) to a siting authority once it approves the covered project, and (B) to any other government body once construction of the project begins in its area.

(d) Returning funds. If a siting authority does not use all its subsection (b)(1) grant funds within 2 years of receiving them, it must return the unused funds to the Secretary.

(e) Definitions. (1) "Covered transmission project" means a high-voltage interstate or offshore electricity transmission line that (A) is proposed to be built and to run either (i) at a minimum of 275 kilovolts AC or DC, or (ii) offshore at a minimum of 200 kilovolts AC or DC, and (B) whose developer has applied, or told the siting authority it intends to apply, for regulatory approval. (2) "Siting authority" means a State, local, or Tribal government body with authority to make a final decision on the siting, permitting, or regulatory status of a covered transmission project proposed for its area.