(1) the electric power sector is the second larg-
est source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United 
States today, producing approximately 28 percent of 
the country’s emissions; 
(2) heating and cooling homes accounts for over 
40 percent of residential electricity usage in the 
United States; 
(3) shade trees planted in strategic locations 
can reduce residential cooling costs by as much as 
30 percent; 
(4) strategically planted shade trees can provide 
significant carbon benefits both directly (sequestra-
tion by the growing tree) and indirectly (reductions 
in carbon emissions from electricity conservation); 
(5) low-income neighborhoods are disproportion-
ately impacted by the higher costs, poorer air qual-
ity, and increased risk of heat-related illnesses re-
sulting from higher temperatures; 
(6) trees can reduce the rate and magnitude of 
stormwater runoff and improve surface water qual-
ity; 
(7) trees reduce topsoil erosion, prevent harm-
ful land pollutants contained in soil from getting 
into our waterways, slow down water run-off, and 
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ensure that our groundwater supplies are continually 
being replenished; and 
(8) trees strategically placed on or near residen-
tial property can increase a home’s property value. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
As used in this Act: 
(1) The term ‘‘nonprofit tree-planting organiza-
tion’’ means any organization described in section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 
U.S.C. 501(c)(3)), that is exempt from taxation 
under section 501(a) of such Code (26 U.S.C. 
501(a)), which exists, in whole or in part, to— 
(A) expand urban and residential tree 
cover; 
(B) distribute young trees for planting; 
(C) increase awareness of the environ-
mental and energy-related benefits of trees; 
(D) educate the public about proper tree 
planting, care, and maintenance strategies; or 
(E) carry out any combination of the fore-
going activities. 
(2) The term ‘‘retail power provider’’ means 
any entity authorized under applicable State or Fed-
eral law to generate, distribute, or provide retail 
electricity, natural gas, or fuel oil service. 
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(3) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Energy. 
(4) The term ‘‘State’’ means each of the several 
States, the District of Columbia, and each common-
wealth, territory, or possession of the United States. 
SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary shall establish a 
grant program to provide financial assistance to retail 
power providers to support the establishment of new, or 
continued operation of existing, targeted residential tree- 
planting programs. 
(b) COOPERATION.—In carrying out the grant pro-
gram established pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary 
may cooperate with, and provide assistance for such co-
operation to, State foresters or equivalent State officials 
or Indian Tribes. 
(c) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
TREE-PLANTING
PRO-
GRAMS.—In order to qualify for assistance under the 
grant program established pursuant to subsection (a), a 
retail power provider shall, in accordance with this Act, 
establish and operate, or continue operating, a targeted 
residential tree-planting program that meets each of the 
following requirements: 
(1) The program shall provide free or dis-
counted shade-providing or wind-reducing trees to 
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residential consumers. If providing free and dis-
counted trees under the program, priority for free 
trees shall be given to areas where the average an-
nual income is below the regional median. 
(2) The program shall either provide trees to 
plant to— 
(A) provide maximum amounts of shade 
during summer intervals when residences are 
exposed to the most sun intensity; or 
(B) provide maximum amounts of wind 
protection during fall and winter intervals when 
residences are exposed to the most wind inten-
sity. 
(3) The program shall use the best available 
science to create, as needed, and utilize tree-siting 
guidelines which dictate where the optimum tree spe-
cies are best planted in locations that ensure ade-
quate root development and that achieve maximum 
reductions in consumer energy demand while causing 
the least disruption to public infrastructure, consid-
ering overhead and underground facilities. Such 
guidelines shall— 
(A) include the species and minimum size 
of trees that are most likely to result in a suc-
cessful tree planting; 
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(B) outline the minimum distance re-
quired— 
(i) between the trees that are being 
planted; and 
(ii) between such trees and building 
foundations, air conditioning units, drive-
ways and walkways, property fences, pre-
existing utility infrastructure, septic sys-
tems, swimming pools, and other infra-
structure as determined appropriate; and 
(C) ensure that trees planted under the 
tree-planting program near existing power lines 
will not interfere with energized electricity dis-
tribution lines when mature. 
(4) The program shall provide that no new 
trees will be planted under or adjacent to high-volt-
age electric transmission lines without prior con-
sultation with the retail power provider with jurisdic-
tion over such transmission lines. 
(5) The program shall provide tree recipients 
with tree planting and tree care instruction and edu-
cation prior to or in conjunction with delivery of free 
or discounted trees. 
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(6) The program shall provide for engagement 
and collaboration with community members that will 
be affected by the program. 
(7) The program shall provide tree care assist-
ance for trees planted under the program for a pe-
riod of time, to be determined by the retail power 
provider, in consultation with the nonprofit tree- 
planting organization, local municipal government, 
or conservation district with which the retail power 
provider has entered into an agreement described in 
subsection (e) and the applicable local technical advi-
sory committee established pursuant to subsection 
(f), to ensure long-term survival of the trees. 
(8) The program has been certified by the Sec-
retary that it is designed to achieve the requirements 
set forth in paragraphs (1) through (7). In desig-
nating criteria for such certification, the Secretary 
shall collaborate with the Forest Service’s Urban 
and Community Forestry Program, and may consult 
with the Administrator of the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency, to ensure that such criteria are con-
sistent with such requirements. 
(d) NEW PROGRAM FUNDING SHARE.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure that no less than 30 percent of the 
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funds made available under this Act are distributed to re-
tail power providers that— 
(1) have not previously established or operated 
a targeted residential tree-planting program that 
meets the requirements described in subsection (c); 
or 
(2) are operating a targeted residential tree- 
planting program that meets the requirements de-
scribed in subsection (c) which was established no 
more than three years prior to the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
(e) AGREEMENTS BETWEEN RETAIL POWER PRO-
VIDERS
AND NONPROFIT TREE-PLANTING ORGANIZA-
TIONS.— 
(1) GRANT
AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary 
may provide assistance under the grant program es-
tablished pursuant to subsection (a) only to a retail 
power provider that has entered into a binding legal 
agreement with a nonprofit tree-planting organiza-
tion. 
(2) CONDITIONS OF AGREEMENT.—An agree-
ment between a retail power provider and a non-
profit tree-planting organization described in para-
graph (1) shall set forth conditions under which 
such nonprofit tree-planting organization shall carry 
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out a targeted residential tree-planting program that 
is established or operated by the retail power pro-
vider. Such conditions— 
(A) shall require the nonprofit tree-plant-
ing organization to participate in a local tech-
nical advisory committee in accordance with 
subsection (f); and 
(B) may require the nonprofit tree-plant-
ing organization to— 
(i) coordinate volunteer recruitment to 
assist with the physical act of planting 
trees in residential locations under the 
tree-planting program; 
(ii) support a workforce development 
program that trains a local workforce and 
assists with job placement; 
(iii) undertake a public awareness 
campaign to educate local residents about 
the benefits, cost savings, and availability 
of free trees; 
(iv) establish education and informa-
tion campaigns to encourage recipients of 
trees under the tree-planting program to 
maintain their trees over the long term; 
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(v) serve as the point of contact for 
existing and potential residential partici-
pants who have questions or concerns re-
garding the tree-planting program; 
(vi) require recipients of trees under 
the tree-planting program to sign agree-
ments committing to voluntary stewardship 
and care of provided trees; and 
(vii) monitor and report on the sur-
vival, growth, overall health, and estimated 
energy savings of trees provided under the 
tree-planting program up until the end of 
their establishment period, which shall be 
no less than 5 years. 
(3) LACK OF NONPROFIT TREE-PLANTING OR-
GANIZATION.—If a nonprofit tree-planting organiza-
tion does not exist or operate within the area served 
by a retail power provider applying for assistance 
under this section, the requirements of this section 
shall apply to binding legal agreements entered into 
by such retail power provider and one of the fol-
lowing entities: 
(A) A local municipal government with ju-
risdiction over the urban or suburban forest. 
(B) A conservation district. 
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(f) TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES.— 
(1) CONDITION.—In order to qualify for assist-
ance under the grant program established pursuant 
to subsection (a), a retail power provider shall agree 
to consult with the nonprofit tree-planting organiza-
tion, local municipal government, or conservation 
district with which the retail power provider has en-
tered into an agreement described in subsection (e) 
and State foresters or equivalent State officials to 
establish a local technical advisory committee de-
scribed in paragraph (2) not later than 30 days 
after receiving such assistance. 
(2) DESCRIPTION.—A local technical advisory 
committee shall provide advice to, and consult with, 
a retail power provider and nonprofit tree-planting 
organization, local municipal government, or con-
servation district regarding the applicable targeted 
residential tree-planting program. The advisory com-
mittee may— 
(A) design and adopt an approved plant 
list for the tree-planting program that empha-
sizes the use of hardy, noninvasive tree species 
and, where geographically appropriate, the use 
of native or low water-use shade trees, or both; 
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(B) design and adopt planting, installation, 
and maintenance specifications and create a 
process for inspection and quality control for 
the tree-planting program; 
(C) assist in developing long-term care and 
maintenance instructions for recipients of trees 
under the tree-planting program; 
(D) assist the retail power provider and 
nonprofit tree-planting organization, local mu-
nicipal government, or conservation district, as 
appropriate, with public outreach and education 
regarding the tree-planting program; 
(E) assist in establishing a procedure for 
monitoring and collection of data on tree 
health, tree survival, and energy conservation 
benefits generated by the tree-planting pro-
gram; 
(F) provide guidelines and recommenda-
tions for establishing or supporting existing 
workforce development programs as part of, 
and for prioritizing local hiring under, a tree- 
planting program; and 
(G) assist the retail power provider in 
maintaining and compiling information regard-
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