I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4447 
To establish an energy storage and microgrid grant and technical assistance 
program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 
Mr. O’HALLERAN (for himself, Mr. MULLIN, Mr. LAMB, and Mr. NORMAN) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish an energy storage and microgrid grant and 
technical assistance program. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Expanding Access to 
Sustainable Energy Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
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(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a rural electric cooperative; or 
(B) a nonprofit organization working with 
at least 6 or more rural electric cooperatives. 
(2) ENERGY
STORAGE.—The term ‘‘energy 
storage’’ means the use of a system, equipment, fa-
cility, or technology that— 
(A) is capable of absorbing energy, storing 
that energy for a period of time, and dis-
patching the stored energy; and 
(B)(i) uses a mechanical, electrochemical, 
or thermal process to store energy that— 
(I) was generated at an earlier time 
for use at a later time; or 
(II) was generated from a mechanical 
process, and would otherwise be wasted, 
for delivery at a later time; or 
(ii) stores thermal energy for direct use for 
heating or cooling at a later time in a manner 
that avoids the need to use electricity at that 
later time, including the storage and use offered 
by a grid-enabled water heater. 
(3) ISLAND.—The term ‘‘island’’, with respect 
to a distributed generator or energy storage equip-
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ment, means that the generator or equipment con-
tinues to power a location in the absence of electric 
power from a primary source. 
(4) MICROGRID.—The term ‘‘microgrid’’ means 
an interconnected system of loads and distributed 
energy resources, including generators and energy 
storage devices, within clearly defined electrical 
boundaries that— 
(A) acts as a single controllable entity with 
respect to the grid; and 
(B) can connect and disconnect from the 
grid to operate in both grid-connected mode 
and island mode. 
(5) RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE.—The term 
‘‘renewable energy source’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 609(a) of the Public Utility Reg-
ulatory Policies Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 918c(a)). 
(6) RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE.—The term 
‘‘rural electric cooperative’’ means an electric coop-
erative (as defined in section 3 of the Federal Power 
Act (16 U.S.C. 796)) that sells electric energy to 
persons in rural areas. 
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
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SEC. 3. ENERGY STORAGE AND MICROGRID ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish 
a program under which the Secretary shall— 
(1) provide grants to eligible entities under sub-
section (c); 
(2) provide technical assistance to eligible enti-
ties under subsection (d); and 
(3) disseminate information to eligible entities 
on— 
(A) the activities described in subsections 
(c)(1) and (d); and 
(B) potential and existing energy storage 
and microgrid projects. 
(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.—The Secretary may 
enter into a cooperative agreement with an eligible entity 
to carry out subsection (a). 
(c) GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 
grants to eligible entities for identifying, evaluating, 
designing, and demonstrating energy storage and 
microgrid projects that utilize energy from renewable 
energy sources. 
(2) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall 
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submit to the Secretary an application at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as 
the Secretary may require. 
(3) USE OF GRANT.—An eligible entity that re-
ceives a grant under paragraph (1)— 
(A) shall use the grant— 
(i) to conduct feasibility studies to as-
sess the potential for implementation or 
improvement 
of 
energy 
storage 
or 
microgrid projects; 
(ii) to analyze and implement strate-
gies to overcome barriers to energy storage 
or microgrid project implementation, in-
cluding financial, contracting, siting, and 
permitting barriers; 
(iii) to conduct detailed engineering of 
energy storage or microgrid projects; 
(iv) to perform a cost-benefit analysis 
with respect to an energy storage or 
microgrid project; 
(v) to plan for both the short- and 
long-term inclusion of energy storage or 
microgrid projects into the future develop-
ment plans of the eligible entity; or 
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(vi) to purchase and install necessary 
equipment, materials, and supplies for 
demonstration of emerging technologies; 
and 
(B) may use the grant to obtain technical 
assistance from experts in carrying out the ac-
tivities described in this Act. 
(4) CONDITION.—As a condition of receiving a 
grant under paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall— 
(A) implement a public awareness cam-
paign about the project implemented under the 
grant in the community in which the eligible en-
tity is located; 
(B) submit to the Secretary, and make 
available to the public, a report that de-
scribes— 
(i) any energy cost savings and envi-
ronmental benefits achieved under the 
project; and 
(ii) the results of the project, includ-
ing quantitative assessments to the extent 
practicable, associated with each activity 
described in paragraph (3)(A); and 
(C) create and disseminate useful or inno-
vative tools and resources that will benefit other 
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rural electric cooperatives, which may include 
cost calculators, guidebooks, handbooks, tem-
plates and training courses. 
(5) COST-SHARE.—Activities under this sub-
section shall be subject to the cost-sharing require-
ments of section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352). 
(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out subsection (a)(2) by providing eligible entities 
with technical assistance relating to— 
(A) identifying opportunities for energy 
storage and microgrid projects; 
(B) understanding the technical and eco-
nomic characteristics of energy storage or 
microgrid projects; 
(C) understanding financing alternatives; 
(D) permitting and siting issues; 
(E) obtaining case studies of similar and 
successful energy storage or microgrid projects; 
(F) reviewing and obtaining computer soft-
ware for assessment, design, and operation and 
maintenance of energy storage or microgrid sys-
tems; and 
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(G) understanding and utilizing the reli-
ability and resiliency benefits of energy storage 
and microgrid projects. 
(2) EXTERNAL
CONTRACTS.—In carrying out 
subsection (a)(2), the Secretary may enter into con-
tracts with third-party experts, including engineer-
ing, finance, and insurance experts, to provide tech-
nical assistance to eligible entities relating to the ac-
tivities described in subparagraphs (A) through (G) 
of paragraph (1), or other relevant activities, as de-
termined by the Secretary. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this Act $5,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2020 through 2025. 
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Not more than 5 per-
cent of the amount appropriated under subsection (a) for 
each fiscal year shall be used for administrative expenses. 
Æ 
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