II 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2041 

To promote the use of resilient energy systems to rebuild infrastructure 

following disasters. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 31, 2017 

Mr. BENNET (for himself, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. HEINRICH, and Mr. FRANKEN) 

introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

A BILL 

To promote the use of resilient energy systems to rebuild 

infrastructure following disasters. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rebuilding Resilient 

5 Energy Systems Act of 2017’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) EFFICIENT.—The term ‘‘efficient’’ means, 

9 with respect to a technology, product, material, 

10 equipment, or practice, the use of the technology, 


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1 product, material, equipment, or practice in a man2 ner that results in reduced energy consumption or 

3 energy costs for the same level of service or a higher 

4 level of service. 

5 (2) RESILIENT.—The term ‘‘resilient’’ means, 

6 with respect to a system or a component of a sys7 tem, the ability of the system or component to adapt 

8 to a changing condition and withstand and rapidly 

9 recover from a disruption. 

10 SEC. 3. USE OF RESILIENT ENERGY SYSTEMS TO REBUILD 

11 FOLLOWING DISASTERS. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi13 sion of law, any amounts awarded under sections 403, 

14 404, 406, 408, and 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 

15 Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b, 

16 5170c, 5172, 5174, 5189f) may be used to build, repair, 

17 restore, reconstruct, or replace an energy system or build18 ing as a result of a major disaster or emergency des19 ignated by the President under the Robert T. Stafford 

20 Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

21 5121 et seq.) during calendar year 2017 in a manner 

22 that— 

23 (1) is more resilient; 

24 (2) is more efficient; 


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1 (3) provides continuous flow of power to facili2 ties critical to public health, safety, and welfare; 

3 (4) maximizes the use of clean energy resources 

4 and energy storage technologies; and 

5 (5) promotes lower energy bills to the extent 

6 feasible. 

7 (b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in sub8 section (a) creates eligibility for assistance for any energy 

9 provider that is not otherwise eligible for assistance under 

10 the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As11 sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 

12 (c) COORDINATION WITH PRIVATE ENTITIES.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 

14 Federal Emergency Management Agency shall des15 ignate a representative of the Agency to coordinate 

16 with one or more private entities that are interested 

17 in donating energy system technologies and services 

18 to rebuild in accordance with subsection (a) fol19 lowing a major disaster or emergency. 

20 (2) COORDINATION AMONG AGENCIES.—In car21 rying out paragraph (1), the Administrator of the 

22 Federal Emergency Management Agency is encour23 aged to coordinate with the Secretary of Energy and 

24 the Secretary of Homeland Security. 

25 (d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 

2 the date of enactment of this Act, each National 

3 Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the Energy 

4 Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)), in coordina5 tion with the programs of the Department of Energy 

6 that provide assistance to States and industry, shall 

7 make technical assistance available to Federal, 

8 State, and local agencies and private entities that 

9 are interested in— 

10 (A) developing plans or providing guidance 

11 on the design of a resilient and efficient energy 

12 system or building; and 

13 (B) building, repairing, restoring, recon14 structing, or replacing an energy system or 

15 building in accordance with subsection (a) fol16 lowing a major disaster or emergency. 

17 (2) CONSULTATION AMONG AGENCIES.—The 

18 Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage19 ment Agency is encouraged to consult with the Sec20 retary of Defense regarding the experience of the 

21 Department of Defense in building resilient power 

22 systems. 

Æ 


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