Renew America’s Schools Act of 2021

To require the Secretary of Energy to provide grants for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy improvements at public school facilities, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Renew America’s Schools Act of 2021 2. Grants for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy improvements at public school facilities (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) 1 local educational agency; and (B) 1 or more— (i) schools; (ii) nonprofit organizations; (iii) for-profit organizations; or (iv) community partners that have the knowledge and capacity to partner and assist with energy improvements. (2) Energy improvement The term energy improvement (A) any improvement, repair, or renovation to a school that results in a direct reduction in school energy costs, including improvements to the envelope, air conditioning system, ventilation system, heating system, domestic hot water heating system, compressed air system, distribution system, lighting system, power system, and controls of a building; (B) any improvement, repair, or renovation to, or installation in, a school that leads to an improvement in teacher and student health, including indoor air quality, daylighting, ventilation, electrical lighting, windows, roofing (including green roofs), outdoor gardens, and acoustics; (C) any improvement, repair, or renovation to a school involving the installation of renewable energy technologies (such as wind power, photovoltaics, solar thermal systems, geothermal energy, hydrogen-fueled systems, biomass-based systems, biofuels, anaerobic digesters, and hydropower); (D) the installation of zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure on school grounds for— (i) exclusive use of school buses, school fleets, or students; or (ii) the general public; and (E) the purchase or lease of zero-emissions vehicles to be used by a school, including school buses, fleet vehicles, and other operational vehicles. (3) High school The term high school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (4) Local educational agency The term local educational agency 20 U.S.C. 7801 (5) Partnering local educational agency The term partnering local educational agency (6) Secretary The term Secretary (7) Zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure The term zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure (A) a zero-emission vehicle (as defined in section 88.102–94 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulation)); or (B) a vehicle that produces zero exhaust emissions of any criteria pollutant (or precursor pollutant) or greenhouse gas under any possible operational mode or condition. (b) Grants The Secretary shall award competitive grants to eligible entities to make energy improvements in accordance with this section. (c) Applications (1) In general An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Contents The application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include each of the following: (A) A needs assessment of the current condition of the school and school facilities that will receive the energy improvements. (B) A draft work plan of the intended achievements of the eligible entity at the school. (C) A description of the energy improvements that the eligible entity will carry out at the school. (D) A description of the capacity of the eligible entity to provide services and comprehensive support to make the energy improvements referred to in subparagraph (C). (E) An assessment of the expected needs of the eligible entity for operation and maintenance training funds, and a plan for use of those funds, if applicable. (F) An assessment of the expected energy efficiency and safety benefits of the energy improvements. (G) A cost estimate of the proposed energy improvements. (H) An identification of other resources that are available to carry out the activities for which grant funds are requested under this section, including the availability of utility programs and public benefit funds. (d) Priority (1) In general In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity— (A) that has renovation, repair, and improvement funding needs; and (B) (i) that, as determined by the Secretary, serves a high percentage of students, including students in a high school in accordance with paragraph (2), who are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 (ii) the partnering local educational agency of which is designated with a school district locale code of 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the National Center for Education Statistics in consultation with the Bureau of the Census. (2) High school students In the case of students in a high school, the percentage of students eligible for a free or reduced price lunch described in paragraph (1)(B)(i) shall be calculated using data from the schools that feed into the high school. (e) Competitive criteria The competitive criteria used by the Secretary to award grants under this section shall include the following: (1) The extent of the disparity between the fiscal capacity of the eligible entity to carry out energy improvements at school facilities and the needs of the partnering local educational agency for those energy improvements, including consideration of— (A) the current and historic ability of the partnering local educational agency to raise funds for construction, renovation, modernization, and major repair projects for schools; (B) the ability of the partnering local educational agency to issue bonds or receive other funds to support the current infrastructure needs of the partnering local educational agency for schools; and (C) the bond rating of the partnering local educational agency. (2) The likelihood that the partnering local educational agency or eligible entity will maintain, in good condition, any school and school facility that is the subject of improvements. (3) The potential energy efficiency and safety benefits from the proposed energy improvements. (f) Use of grant amounts (1) In general Except as provided in this subsection, an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant amounts only to make the energy improvements described in the application submitted by the eligible entity under subsection (c). (2) Operation and maintenance training An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use not more than 5 percent of the grant amounts for operation and maintenance training for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements, such as maintenance staff and teacher training, education, and preventative maintenance training. (3) Third-party investigation and analysis An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use a portion of the grant amounts for a third-party investigation and analysis of the energy improvements carried out by the eligible entity, such as energy audits and existing building commissioning. (4) Continuing education An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use not more than 3 percent of the grant amounts to develop a continuing education curriculum relating to energy improvements. (g) Competition in contracting If an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section uses grant funds to carry out repair or renovation through a contract, the eligible entity shall be required to ensure that the contract process— (1) through full and open competition, ensures the maximum practicable number of qualified bidders, including small, minority, and women-owned businesses; and (2) gives priority to businesses located in, or resources common to, the State or geographical area in which the repair or renovation under the contract will be carried out. (h) Best practices The Secretary shall develop and publish guidelines and best practices for activities carried out under this section. (i) Report by eligible entity An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary, at such time as the Secretary may require, a report describing— (1) the use of the grant funds for energy improvements; (2) the estimated cost savings realized by those energy improvements; (3) the results of any third-party investigation and analysis conducted relating to those energy improvements; (4) the use of any utility programs and public benefit funds; and (5) the use of performance tracking for energy improvements, such as the Energy Star program established under section 324A or the United States Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system for existing buildings. (j) Wage rate requirements (1) Davis-Bacon Any laborer or mechanic employed by any contractor or subcontractor in the performance of work on any energy improvements funded by a grant under this section shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor under subchapter IV of chapter 31 Davis-Bacon Act (2) Authority With respect to the labor standards specified in paragraph (1), the Secretary of Labor shall have the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 of title 40, United States Code. (k) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.

Summary: Renew America’s Schools Act of 2021 This bill establishes a program under which the Department of Energy must award grants for energy improvements (e.g., renovations to install energy efficiency or renewable energy technologies, repairs to improve indoor air quality, or purchases of zero-emission vehicles) at public school facilities.