21st Century Power Grid Act

To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to provide financial assistance for projects relating to the modernization of the electric grid, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the 21st Century Power Grid Act 2. Grant program for grid modernization projects (a) In general The Secretary of Energy shall establish a program to provide financial assistance to eligible partnerships to carry out projects related to the modernization of the electric grid, including— (1) projects for the deployment of technologies to improve monitoring of, advanced controls for, and prediction of performance of, a distribution system; and (2) projects related to transmission system planning and operation. (b) Eligible projects Projects for which an eligible partnership may receive financial assistance under subsection (a)— (1) shall be designed to improve the resiliency, performance, or efficiency of the electric grid, while ensuring the continued provision of safe, secure, reliable, and affordable power; (2) may be designed to deploy a new product or technology that could be used by customers of an electric utility; and (3) shall demonstrate— (A) secure integration and management of energy resources, including through distributed energy generation, combined heat and power, microgrids, energy storage, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, demand response, or controllable loads; or (B) secure integration and interoperability of communications and information technologies related to the electric grid. (c) Cybersecurity plan Each project carried out with financial assistance provided under subsection (a) shall include the development of a cybersecurity plan written in accordance with guidelines developed by the Secretary of Energy. (d) Privacy effects analysis Each project carried out with financial assistance provided under subsection (a) shall include a privacy effects analysis that evaluates the project in accordance with the Voluntary Code of Conduct of the Department of Energy, commonly known as the DataGuard Energy Data Privacy Program (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible partnership The term eligible partnership (A) may include— (i) any institution of higher education; (ii) a National Laboratory; (iii) a State or a local government or other public body created by or pursuant to State law; (iv) an Indian Tribe; (v) a Federal power marketing administration; or (vi) an entity that develops and provides technology; and (B) shall include at least one of any of— (i) an electric utility; (ii) a Regional Transmission Organization; or (iii) an Independent System Operator. (2) Electric utility The term electric utility 16 U.S.C. 796(22) (3) Federal power marketing administration The term Federal power marketing administration (4) Independent System Operator; Regional Transmission Organization The terms Independent System Operator Regional Transmission Organization 16 U.S.C. 796 (5) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy to carry out this section $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025, to remain available until expended.

Summary: 21st Century Power Grid Act This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a program to provide financial assistance for projects designed to improve the resiliency, performance, or efficiency of the electric grid, while ensuring the provision of safe, secure, reliable, and affordable power. The projects must demonstrate (1) secure integration and management of energy resources, or (2) secure integration and interoperability of communications and information technologies related to the electric grid. Each project must include the development of a cybersecurity plan and a privacy effects analysis that evaluates the project in accordance with DOE's Voluntary Code of Conduct, commonly known as the DataGuard Energy Data Privacy Program. The projects may be designed to deploy a new product or technology that could be used by customers of an electric utility.