ECO Campus Act

To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program to support energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience improvements at certain institutions of higher education, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Energy Conservation Opportunities on Campus Act ECO Campus Act 2. Grants for universities (a) Establishment of grant program Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy (in this section referred to as the Secretary (b) Applications To be eligible to receive a grant under the Program, a covered university shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate. (c) Special considerations In awarding grants under the Program, the Secretary shall— (1) give priority to covered universities that are minority-serving institutions; and (2) award grants in a manner that ensures geographically diverse recipients. (d) Eligible uses A grant awarded to a covered university under the Program may be used for the following projects on the campus of such university: (1) The purchase and installation of solar panels. (2) The purchase, or contracting for use, of electric vehicles. (3) The purchase and installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. (4) The purchase and installation of energy-efficient windows. (5) Construction, repairs, or renovations to buildings to improve occupant health, including construction, repairs, or renovations that improve air quality or ventilation. (6) Construction, repairs, or renovations to buildings to improve climate resilience. (7) Investigation and analysis with respect to energy efficiency and climate resilience improvements. (8) The purchase and installation of microgrid systems. (9) The purchase and installation of energy storage systems. (10) Repairs or renovations to district energy systems. (e) Limitations (1) Maximum grant amount A grant awarded under the Program may not exceed $10,000,000. (2) Training costs A covered university awarded a grant under the Program may use not more than ten percent of grant funds for training costs related to a project carried out with grant funds. (f) Reporting Not later than three years after the date on which a covered university receives a grant under the Program, the university shall submit to the Secretary a report detailing the use of grant funds. (g) Definitions In this section: (1) Climate resilience The term climate resilience (2) Covered university The term covered university (A) A public institution of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) (B) A public Tribal college or university, as defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act. (C) A public institution of higher education located in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. (3) Energy storage system The term energy storage system (4) Microgrid system The term microgrid system (A) acts as a single controllable entity; and (B) can operate while connected to, and while disconnected from, the national or local electric grid. (5) Minority-serving institution The term minority-serving institution 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) (6) Program The term Program (h) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $76,100,000,000.

Summary: Energy Conservation Opportunities on Campus Act or the ECO Campus Act This bill directs the Department of Energy to establish a grant program to support energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience improvements at certain public institutions of higher education.