IB 
Union Calendar No. 404 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4447 
[Report No. 116–504, Part I] 
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 
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 
Additional sponsors: Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana, Mr. WELCH, 
Mr. COLE, Ms. SPANBERGER, and Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire 
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 
Reported from the Committee on Energy and Commerce with an amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
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SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged; committed to the 
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered 
to be printed 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on September 20, 2019] 
A BILL 
To establish an energy storage and microgrid grant and 
technical assistance program. 
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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: 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a rural electric cooperative; or 
(B) a nonprofit organization working with 
at least 6 rural electric cooperatives. 
(2) ENERGY STORAGE.—The term ‘‘energy stor-
age’’ means the use of equipment or facilities relating 
to the electric grid that are capable of absorbing and 
converting energy, as applicable, storing the energy 
for a period of time, and dispatching the energy, 
that— 
(A) use mechanical, electrochemical, bio-
chemical, or thermal processes, to convert and 
store energy that was generated at an earlier 
time for use at a later time; 
(B) use mechanical, electrochemical, bio-
chemical, or thermal processes to convert and 
store energy generated from mechanical processes 
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that would otherwise be wasted for delivery at a 
later time; or 
(C) convert and store energy in an electric, 
thermal, or gaseous state for direct use for heat-
ing or cooling at a later time in a manner that 
avoids the need to use electricity or other fuel 
sources at that later time, as is offered by grid- 
enabled water heaters. 
(3) ISLAND.—The term ‘‘island mode’’ means a 
mode in which a distributed generator or energy stor-
age device continues to power a location in the ab-
sence of electric power from the primary source. 
(4) MICROGRID.—The term ‘‘microgrid’’ means 
an interconnected system of loads and distributed en-
ergy resources, including generators and energy stor-
age devices, within clearly defined electrical bound-
aries that— 
(A) acts as a single controllable entity with 
respect to the electric grid; and 
(B) can connect to, and disconnect from, the 
electric 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 
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(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 
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 im-
provement of energy storage or microgrid 
projects; 
(ii) to analyze and implement strate-
gies to overcome barriers to energy storage 
or microgrid project implementation, in-
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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 
(vi) to purchase and install necessary 
equipment, materials, and supplies for dem-
onstration of emerging technologies; and 
(B) may use the grant to obtain technical 
assistance from experts in carrying out the ac-
tivities described in subparagraph (A). 
(4) CONDITION.—As a condition of receiving a 
grant under paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall— 
(A) implement a public awareness cam-
paign, in coordination with the Secretary, about 
the project implemented under the grant in the 
community in which the eligible entity is lo-
cated; 
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(B) submit to the Secretary, and make 
available to the public, a report that describes— 
(i) any energy cost savings and envi-
ronmental benefits achieved under the 
project; and 
(ii) the results of the project, including 
quantitative assessments to the extent prac-
ticable, associated with each activity de-
scribed in paragraph (3)(A); and 
(C) create and disseminate tools and re-
sources that will benefit other rural electric co-
operatives, which may include cost calculators, 
guidebooks, handbooks, templates, 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.—In carrying out the program 
established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
provide eligible entities with technical assistance re-
lating to— 
(A) identifying opportunities for energy 
storage and microgrid projects; 
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(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 
(G) understanding and utilizing the reli-
ability and resiliency benefits of energy storage 
and microgrid projects. 
(2) EXTERNAL
CONTRACTS.—In carrying out 
paragraph (1), the Secretary may enter into contracts 
with third-party experts, including engineering, fi-
nance, and insurance experts, to provide technical as-
sistance to eligible entities relating to the activities 
described in such paragraph, or other relevant activi-
ties, as determined 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 2021 through 2025. 
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(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. 
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