A bill to require the Secretary of Energy to establish an energy efficiency retrofit pilot program.

Summary: This bill directs the Department of Energy to establish a pilot program to award matching grants for nonprofit organizations to retrofit their buildings with energy-efficiency improvements. This bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to decrease the amount of appropriations authorized in FY2015 for the Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative.

SECTION 1. ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFIT PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Applicant.--The term ``applicant'' means a nonprofit 
        organization that applies for a grant under this section.
            (2) Energy-efficiency improvement.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``energy-efficiency 
                improvement'' means an installed measure (including a 
                product, equipment, system, service, or practice) that 
                results in a reduction in use by a nonprofit 
                organization for energy or fuel supplied from outside 
                the nonprofit building.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``energy-efficiency 
                improvement'' includes an installed measure described 
                in subparagraph (A) involving--
                            (i) repairing, replacing, or installing--
                                    (I) a roof or lighting system, or 
                                component of a roof or lighting system;
                                    (II) a window;
                                    (III) a door, including a security 
                                door; or
                                    (IV) a heating, ventilation, or air 
                                conditioning system or component of the 
                                system (including insulation and wiring 
                                and plumbing improvements needed to 
                                serve a more efficient system);
                            (ii) a renewable energy generation or 
                        heating system, including a solar, 
                        photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, or biomass 
                        (including wood pellet) system or component of 
                        the system; and
                            (iii) any other measure taken to modernize, 
                        renovate, or repair a nonprofit building to 
                        make the nonprofit building more energy 
                        efficient.
            (3) Nonprofit building.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``nonprofit building'' 
                means a building operated and owned by a nonprofit 
                organization.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``nonprofit building'' 
                includes a building described in subparagraph (A) that 
                is--
                            (i) a hospital;
                            (ii) a youth center;
                            (iii) a school;
                            (iv) a social-welfare program facility;
                            (v) a faith-based organization; and
                            (vi) any other nonresidential and 
                        noncommercial structure.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
    (b) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program to 
award grants for the purpose of retrofitting nonprofit buildings with 
energy-efficiency improvements.
    (c) Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may award grants under the 
        program established under subsection (b).
            (2) Application.--The Secretary may award a grant under 
        this section if an applicant submits to the Secretary an 
        application at such time, in such form, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may prescribe.
            (3) Criteria for grant.--In determining whether to award a 
        grant under this section, the Secretary shall apply 
        performance-based criteria, which shall give priority to 
        applications based on--
                    (A) the energy savings achieved;
                    (B) the cost-effectiveness of the energy-efficiency 
                improvement;
                    (C) an effective plan for evaluation, measurement, 
                and verification of energy savings;
                    (D) the financial need of the applicant; and
                    (E) the percentage of the matching contribution by 
                the applicant.
            (4) Limitation on individual grant amount.--Each grant 
        awarded under this section shall not exceed--
                    (A) an amount equal to 50 percent of the energy-
                efficiency improvement; and
                    (B) $200,000.
            (5) Cost sharing.--
                    (A) In general.--A grant awarded under this section 
                shall be subject to a minimum non-Federal cost-sharing 
                requirement of 50 percent.
                    (B) In-kind contributions.--The non-Federal share 
                may be provided in the form of in-kind contributions of 
                materials or services.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2016 through 2020, to remain available until expended.
    (e) Offset.--Section 422(f) of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17082(f)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``through 2018.'' and 
        inserting ``and 2014;''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
            ``(6) $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 
        2018.''.