Renewable Energy Jobs Act

To require the Secretary of Labor to carry out a pilot program to award competitive grants to eligible entities to train individuals for careers in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited to as the Renewable Energy Jobs Act 2. Alternative Energy Training and Employment Pilot Program (a) Pilot program The Secretary of Labor shall carry out a pilot program (in this section referred to as the pilot program (b) Application (1) In general To apply for a grant under the pilot program, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Contents A grant application under this section shall include the following: (A) A proposal for a program to train individuals for careers in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. (B) A description of the presence of such industries, and the availability of jobs in such industries, in the State in which the eligible entity will carry out the program. (C) A description of the sustainability of long-term careers in such industries in such State, including a description of the growth of such industries over the 10-year period preceding the date of the application and the production output of such industries as of the date of such application. (D) A plan to coordinate the efforts of the eligible entity under the program with relevant efforts of workforce development boards. (E) A description of how the program aligns with the workforce plan of such State. (F) A description of how the program will aid participants to attain recognized postsecondary credentials. (c) Duration of grant Each grant under this section shall be for a period of 3 years. (d) Use of funds An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may use the grant funds— (1) to carry out the proposal submitted by the recipient under subsection (b)(2)(A); (2) to reimburse a primary entity for the cost of providing on-the-job training; (3) to reimburse a secondary entity for the cost of providing skills training (or on-the-job training if in partnership with an energy efficient employer); (4) to reimburse an employer for wages associated with registered apprenticeship; (5) to conduct outreach to inform primary entities, secondary entities, and the public, including individuals in rural areas and Indian tribes, of eligibility or potential eligibility for participation in the program; and (6) to conduct any other activities that the Secretary determines appropriate. (e) Priority In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall prioritize grants to eligible entities that submit a proposal to carry out a program in a State that is among the 5 States with the highest installed alternative energy power capacity. (f) Conditions As a condition of receipt of funds under this section, the Secretary shall require an eligible entity to agree— (1) to repay to the Secretary any amount received under the pilot program that is not used for the purposes described in subsection (d) by the date that is 3 years after the date on which the recipient received such funds; (2) to submit to the Secretary, at such times and containing such information as the Secretary shall require, reports on the use of grant funds; and (3) to ensure that any employer or other entity receiving funds through a program under this section pays each individual receiving on-the-job training provided by such employer or entity not less than the applicable minimum wage for the State or locality in which such training is provided. (g) Limitation on administrative costs (1) Federal administration Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (i), 2 percent shall be made available to the Secretary for administrative costs associated with implementing and evaluating the pilot program under this section and for preparing and submitting the report required under subsection (h). (2) Program administration The Secretary shall determine the appropriate maximum amount of each grant awarded under this section that may be used by the recipient for administrative and reporting costs. (h) Report to Congress The Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report on the pilot program for each year of the grant period containing— (1) a description of activities carried out under this section; (2) an evaluation of the pilot program; and (3) a description of how many participants were employed by renewable energy and energy efficiency employers within 6 months of completing the training. (i) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023, for the purpose of carrying out the pilot program. (j) Definitions For purposes of this section: (1) The term eligible entity (A) a primary entity; or (B) a consortium of entities that— (i) consists of one or more primary entities; and (ii) may include one or more secondary entities. (2) The term Indian tribe 25 U.S.C. 479a (3) The term installed alternative energy power capacity (4) The term institution of higher education 29 U.S.C. 3102 (5) The term labor organization 29 U.S.C. 152 (6) The term on-the-job training (A) provides knowledge or skills essential to the full and adequate performance of the job; (B) provides reimbursement to the employer for the costs of providing the training and additional supervision related to the training; and (C) is limited in duration as appropriate to the occupation for which the participant is being trained, taking into account the content of the training, the prior work experience of the participant, and the service strategy of the participant, as appropriate. (7) The term primary entity (A) a renewable energy and energy efficiency employer; or (B) a workforce development board. (8) The term recognized postsecondary credential 29 U.S.C. 3102 (9) The term renewable energy and energy efficiency employer (10) The term renewable energy and energy efficiency industries (A) The energy-efficient building, construction, or retrofits industry. (B) The renewable electric power industry, including the wind, solar, and geothermal energy industries. (C) The energy efficiency assessment industry that serves the residential, commercial, or industrial sectors. (D) The industries that manufacture solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal generators, and similar products. (11) The term secondary entity (A) a institution of higher education; (B) a nonprofit organization; or (C) a labor organization. (12) The term skills training (13) The term State (14) The term workforce development board 29 U.S.C. 3111

Summary: Renewable Energy Jobs Act This bill directs the Department of Labor to establish a pilot program to award competitive grants to certain eligible entities (i.e., renewable energy and energy efficiency employers and workforce development boards as primary entities and institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and labor organizations as secondary entities) to train individuals for careers in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries.