SMART Electric Act

To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to provide rebates for expenditures for energy efficient electrotechnologies that are used to replace fossil fuel-fired technologies, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Manufacturing in America through Responsible Transitions to Electric Act SMART Electric Act 2. Rebate program for energy efficient electrotechnologies (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Energy efficient electrotechnology The term energy efficient electrotechnology (A) any electric technology that, when used instead of a fossil fuel-fired technology in an industrial process results in— (i) energy efficiency, or production efficiency, gains; or (ii) environmental benefits; or (B) any electric technology that, when used instead of a fossil fuel-fired technology in an industrial application results in— (i) improvements in on-site logistics or material handling; and (ii) energy efficiency gains and environmental benefits. (2) Qualified entity The term qualified entity (3) Secretary The term Secretary (b) Establishment Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program to provide rebates in accordance with this section. (c) Rebates The Secretary may provide a rebate under the program established under subsection (b) to the owner or operator of a qualified entity for expenditures made by the owner or operator of the qualified entity for an energy efficient electrotechnology that is used to replace a fossil fuel-fired technology. (d) Requirements To be eligible to receive a rebate under this section, the owner or operator of a qualified entity shall submit to the Secretary an application demonstrating— (1) that the owner or operator of the qualified entity purchased an energy efficient elec­tro­tech­nol­o­gy; (2) the energy efficiency gains, production efficiency gains, and environmental benefits, as applicable, resulting from use of the energy efficient elec­tro­tech­nol­o­gy— (A) as measured by a qualified professional or verified by the energy efficient elec­tro­tech­nol­o­gy manufacturer, as applicable; or (B) as determined by the Secretary; (3) that the fossil fuel-fired technology replaced by the energy efficient electrotechnology has been permanently decommissioned and scrapped; and (4) that all laborers and mechanics who were involved in the installation or maintenance, or construction or renovation to support such installation or maintenance, of the energy efficient elec­tro­tech­nol­o­gy, or the decommissioning and scrapping of the fossil fuel-fired technology replaced by the energy efficient electrotechnology, and who were employed by the owner or operator of the qualified entity, or contractors or subcontractors at any tier thereof, were paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on projects of a character similar in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 Davis-Bacon Act (e) Limitation The Secretary may not provide a rebate under the program established under subsection (b) to an owner or operator of a qualified entity for expenditures made by the owner or operator of the qualified entity for an energy efficient electrotechnology that is used to replace a fossil fuel-fired technology if the Secretary determines that such expenditures were necessary for the owner or operator to comply with Federal or State law. (f) Authorized amount of rebate The amount of a rebate provided under this section shall be not less than 30 percent, and not more than 50 percent, of the overall cost of the energy efficient electrotechnology, including installation costs. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

Summary: Strengthening Manufacturing in America through Responsible Transitions to Electric Act or the SMART Electric Act This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a program that provides rebates to industrial or manufacturing facilities, commercial buildings, or utilities or energy service companies for energy efficiency upgrades. Specifically, DOE may provide rebates for expenditures made by such entities for energy efficient electrotechnology that is used to replace a fossil fuel-fired technology.