I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3180 
To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to encourage 
deployment of electric school buses and vehicle-to-grid technologies and 
applications, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 10, 2023 
Mr. CROW (for himself and Ms. KUSTER) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a program 
to encourage deployment of electric school buses and 
vehicle-to-grid technologies and applications, and for 
other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Bus Integration Dedi-
cated to Improving Resilience, Eliminating Congestion, 
and Triggering Innovation Over Numerous Applications 
and Localities Act’’ or the ‘‘BIDIRECTIONAL Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE DEPLOYMENT OF ELEC-
TRIC SCHOOL BUSES AND VEHICLE-TO-EV-
ERYTHING TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICA-
TIONS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS.—The term ‘‘elec-
tric school bus’’ means a school bus that is pro-
pelled— 
(A) to a significant extent, as determined 
by the Secretary, by an electric motor that— 
(i) draws electricity from a battery; 
and 
(ii) is capable of being recharged from 
an external source of electricity; and 
(B) by any necessary components or equip-
ment required to facilitate electric-powered 
school bus operations. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) any person (including any company or 
other entity) or State, local, or Tribal entity 
that sells electric energy, including— 
(i) an electric utility, including— 
(I) a local distribution company 
or utility; and 
(II) an electric cooperative; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(ii) a municipality; and 
(iii) a retail marketer of electricity; 
(B) a State public utilities commission; 
(C) a third-party energy efficiency program 
administrator; 
(D) a school bus manufacturer; 
(E) a public or private school district; 
(F) a supplier of charging infrastructure; 
(G) a developer, provider, owner, or oper-
ator of solar, wind, or other renewable or dis-
tributed energy resources; 
(H) a third-party school bus fleet or charg-
ing operator; 
(I) any other entity, including a partner-
ship, that the Secretary determines to be appro-
priate; and 
(J) any partnership or consortium of enti-
ties described in any of subparagraphs (A) 
through (I). 
(3) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(4) NATIONAL LABORATORY.—The term ‘‘Na-
tional Laboratory’’ has the meaning given the term 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15801). 
(5) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means 
the program established under subsection (b)(1). 
(6) PROJECT
PARTNER.—The term ‘‘project 
partner’’, with respect to a project for which a grant 
is sought or provided under the Program, means an 
eligible entity that is a member of a partnership or 
consortium described in paragraph (2)(J) with re-
spect to that project. 
(7) REGIONAL TRANSMISSION ORGANIZATION.— 
The term ‘‘Regional Transmission Organization’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the 
Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796). 
(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
(b) PROGRAM.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall establish a program to encourage the de-
ployment of vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-everything 
technologies and applications, as described in para-
graph (2), including, at a minimum, a vehicle capa-
ble of discharging at least 10 kilowatts of power to 
bidirectional electric vehicle supply equipment that 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
provides alternating current power to an electrical 
circuit, by providing grants to eligible entities for 
projects that include the use of not fewer than 1 
electric school bus with bidirectional energy flow ca-
pabilities for an application described in that para-
graph. 
(2) APPLICATION DESCRIBED.—An application 
referred to in paragraph (1) is— 
(A) a vehicle-to-grid application, such as— 
(i) provision of a distribution-level 
service or participation in a distribution- 
level program; 
(ii) provision of wholesale market 
services, such as capacity, energy, and an-
cillary services; 
(iii) provision of microgrid services; or 
(iv) aggregations of vehicle-to-grid ap-
plications that provide distribution-level 
service, wholesale market services, or 
microgrid services; 
(B) a vehicle-to-building application; or 
(C) any other resilience or other applica-
tion, as determined to be appropriate by the 
Secretary. 
(3) PRIORITY AND DIVERSITY OF PROJECTS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(A) PRIORITY.—In providing grants under 
the Program, the Secretary shall give priority 
to projects that, in the determination of the 
Secretary, are likely to be economically self-sus-
taining and replicable once established. 
(B) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary, to the 
maximum extent practicable in accordance with 
the priority required to be established under 
subparagraph (A), shall provide grants under 
the Program for projects across differing situa-
tions, including in a region that is experiencing 
congestion, shortages, transmission system con-
straints, or distribution system constraints that 
cause the cost of electricity to increase for con-
sumers. 
(4) APPLYING FOR ASSISTANCE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity desir-
ing a grant under the Program shall submit to 
the Secretary an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information 
as the Secretary may require, subject to this 
paragraph. 
(B) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—An application sub-
mitted under subparagraph (A) shall dem-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
onstrate how the assistance requested 
under the Program would help the 1 or 
more eligible entities submitting the appli-
cation to participate in economically justifi-
able 
opportunities 
that 
recognize 
bidirectional electric vehicle charging as a 
relevant technology, including existing elec-
tric utility or Regional Transmission Orga-
nization tariffs, programs, initiatives, poli-
cies, arrangements, or other opportunities 
that recognize bidirectional electric vehicle 
charging as a relevant technology. 
(ii) INTERCONNECTION
RULES.—An 
application submitted under subparagraph 
(A) shall include a certification that any 
project described in the application and 
proposed to be carried out using a grant 
provided under the Program will comply 
with all applicable interconnection rules. 
(5) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Amounts provided to 
an eligible entity pursuant to a grant under the 
Program may be used for— 
(i) 
acquiring 
and 
installing 
bidirectional charging stations and inter-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
connection 
upgrades 
necessary 
for 
bidirectional energy flow; 
(ii) retrofitting buildings, parking fa-
cilities, and school buses for bidirectional 
charging; 
(iii) acquiring and installing any nec-
essary metering and telemetry equipment 
or systems; 
(iv) acquiring technical assistance 
from the Department of Energy, National 
Laboratories, or other parties with relevant 
expertise for any participating project 
partners; and 
(v) any application directly related to 
establishing, sustaining, and optimizing 
bidirectional energy flow, as the Secretary 
determines to be appropriate. 
(B) REQUIREMENT.—Amounts provided to 
an eligible entity pursuant to a grant under the 
Program shall be used in a manner that cor-
responds specifically to the incremental addi-
tional cost of implementing 1 or more applica-
tions described in paragraph (2) as compared to 
the costs associated with the acquisition, dem-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
onstration, or use of a typical electric school 
bus, as determined by the Secretary. 
(C) COMMUNITY OUTREACH.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to clause 
(ii), an eligible entity receiving a grant 
under the Program shall use not less than 
1 percent of the amounts received for out-
reach that is directed at the communities 
and bus users receiving or benefitting from 
those amounts, for the purpose of increas-
ing awareness of the benefits of grid-inte-
grated school buses and how grid-inte-
grated school buses will be used. 
(ii) WAIVER.—The Secretary may 
waive the requirement described in clause 
(i) if the Secretary determines that the 
outreach described in that clause is unnec-
essary or would be of minimal benefit to 
the overall goal of sustained technological 
deployment. 
(6) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—An eligible en-
tity receiving a grant under the Program shall en-
sure that amounts derived from non-Federal sources 
are provided for the projects funded by the grant in 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
a total amount that is equal to, or greater than, the 
amount of the grant. 
(7) OUTREACH TO POTENTIALLY INTERESTED 
ENTITIES.—Of the total amount appropriated to 
carry out the Program, the Secretary shall use not 
less than 1 percent for outreach to potentially inter-
ested eligible entities, including eligible entities par-
ticipating in, or with a demonstrated interest in, the 
clean school bus program established under section 
741 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
16091). 
(8) SCHOOL DISTRICT COMPENSATION.—An eli-
gible entity receiving a grant under the Program 
shall demonstrate to the Secretary that any school 
district participating in the applicable project is ap-
propriately compensated for that participation in a 
manner approved by the Secretary, which may in-
clude— 
(A) the provision of direct financial com-
pensation to the school district; 
(B) the provision or acquisition of electric 
school buses for the school district; or 
(C) savings resulting from the implementa-
tion of an application described in paragraph 
(2). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(9) ANNUAL SUBMISSION OF DATA.—An eligible 
entity receiving a grant under the Program shall an-
nually submit to the Secretary data from vehicles, 
chargers, and associated grid infrastructure nec-
essary to determine operational and economic im-
pacts, and additional data as determined to be nec-
essary by the Secretary. 
(10) COMPATIBILITY WITH EPA CLEAN SCHOOL 
BUS PROGRAM.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Secretary may provide a grant under 
the Program for applicable projects, programs, or 
activities for which amounts are provided under the 
clean school bus program established under section 
741 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
16091), and to eligible entities receiving amounts 
under that program, subject to all applicable re-
quirements of this section. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report summarizing any existing 
pilot programs, including State-funded and locally funded 
pilot programs, involving the use of school buses for the 
applications described in subsection (b)(2), including— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(1) any best practices, challenges, lessons 
learned, and promising future directions discernable 
from those pilot programs and applications; 
(2) any challenges, opportunities, and strategies 
unique to the implementation of those applications 
in rural areas; 
(3) any challenges to the commercial viability of 
those applications posed by State, Federal, or other 
regulatory barriers; and 
(4)(A) any challenges to the economic viability 
of projects involving those applications; and 
(B) any opportunities and strategies to make 
projects involving those applications economically 
viable. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this section $500,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 
2024 through 2028. 
SEC. 3. CONSIDERATION OF MEASURES TO PROMOTE VEHI-
CLE-TO-GRID INTEGRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 111(d) of the Public Util-
ity Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621(d)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(22) VEHICLE-TO-GRID INTEGRATION.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each State shall con-
sider— 
‘‘(i) measures to promote vehicle-to- 
grid integration, including— 
‘‘(I) the establishment of rates, 
tariffs, measures, and standards that 
enable electric vehicles and electric ve-
hicle charging infrastructure— 
‘‘(aa) to receive interconnec-
tion service as described in sub-
paragraph (B); and 
‘‘(bb) to export power from 
the vehicle battery to the dis-
tribution system or the bulk 
power system; 
‘‘(II) the establishment of rates, 
tariffs, measures, and standards that 
enable electric vehicle charging station 
site hosts, charging station owners, 
aggregators, owners of electric vehicle 
fleets or individual fleet vehicles, or 
drivers of private light-duty electric 
vehicles to receive compensation for 
electricity exported from the vehicle 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
battery to the distribution system or 
the bulk power system; and 
‘‘(III) the establishment of rates, 
tariffs, measures, and standards that 
enable aggregation of electric vehicles 
for the purpose of participating in ac-
tive load management programs, in-
cluding 
customer 
demand-response 
programs and customer energy stor-
age programs, and providing ancillary 
services that recognize the value that 
flexible electric vehicle charging can 
provide to the distribution system or 
the bulk power system; and 
‘‘(ii) the impacts of the rates, tariffs, 
measures, and standards described in sub-
clauses (I) through (III) of clause (i), or 
similar rates, tariffs, measures, and stand-
ards, on all classes and types of vehicles, 
including, at a minimum, light-, medium-, 
and heavy-duty vehicles. 
‘‘(B) 
INTERCONNECTION
SERVICE
DE-
SCRIBED.—The interconnection service referred 
to in subparagraph (A)(i)(I)(aa) is interconnec-
tion service that is offered based on— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(i) the standards described in para-
graph (15) (or successor standards); or 
‘‘(ii) as necessary and reasonable, 
standards that— 
‘‘(I) are defined in electric vehi-
cle-to-grid communications interfaces, 
protocols, or standards; 
‘‘(II) are widely adopted; and 
‘‘(III) to ensure the reliability 
and safety of the electric system, 
are— 
‘‘(aa) consistent (or adjusted 
to be consistent) with the stand-
ards described in clause (i); and 
‘‘(bb) integrated, able to be 
integrated, or adjusted in a man-
ner that facilitates integration 
with the standards described in 
that clause.’’. 
(b) COMPLIANCE.— 
(1) TIME LIMITATION.—Section 112(b) of the 
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 
U.S.C. 2622(b)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(9)(A) Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this paragraph, each State regulatory 
authority (with respect to each electric utility for 
which the State has ratemaking authority) and each 
nonregulated electric utility shall commence consid-
eration under section 111, or set a hearing date for 
consideration, with respect to the standard estab-
lished by paragraph (22) of section 111(d). 
‘‘(B) Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this paragraph, each State regulatory 
authority (with respect to each electric utility for 
which the State has ratemaking authority), and each 
nonregulated electric utility shall complete the con-
sideration and make the determination under section 
111 with respect to the standard established by 
paragraph (22) of section 111(d).’’. 
(2) FAILURE TO COMPLY.—Section 112(c) of 
the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 
(16 U.S.C. 2622(c)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: ‘‘In the case of the standard es-
tablished by paragraph (22) of section 111(d), the 
reference contained in this subsection to the date of 
enactment of this Act shall be deemed to be a ref-
erence to the date of enactment of that paragraph 
(22).’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(3) PRIOR STATE ACTIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Section 112 of the 
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 
(16 U.S.C. 2622) is amended— 
(i) in subsection (d)— 
(I) by redesignating paragraphs 
(1) through (3) as subparagraphs (A) 
through (C), respectively, and indent-
ing appropriately; and 
(II) in the matter preceding sub-
paragraph (A) (as so redesignated), 
by striking ‘‘Subsections’’ and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subsections’’; 
(ii) in subsection (e)— 
(I) by redesignating paragraphs 
(1) through (3) as subparagraphs (A) 
through (C), respectively, and indent-
ing appropriately; and 
(II) by striking the subsection 
designation and heading and all that 
follows through ‘‘Subsections’’ in the 
matter preceding subparagraph (A) 
(as so redesignated) and inserting the 
following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(2) TIME-BASED METERING AND COMMUNICA-
TIONS.—Subsections’’; 
(iii) in subsection (f)— 
(I) by redesignating paragraphs 
(1) through (3) as subparagraphs (A) 
through (C), respectively, and indent-
ing appropriately; and 
(II) by striking the subsection 
designation and heading and all that 
follows through ‘‘Subsections’’ in the 
matter preceding subparagraph (A) 
(as so redesignated) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(3) INTERCONNECTION.—Subsections’’; 
(iv) in subsection (g)— 
(I) by redesignating paragraphs 
(1) through (3) as subparagraphs (A) 
through (C), respectively, and indent-
ing appropriately; and 
(II) by striking the subsection 
designation and heading and all that 
follows through ‘‘Subsections’’ in the 
matter preceding subparagraph (A) 
(as so redesignated) and inserting the 
following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(4) 
DEMAND-RESPONSE
PRACTICES.—Sub-
sections’’; 
(v) in subsection (h)— 
(I) by redesignating paragraphs 
(1) through (3) as subparagraphs (A) 
through (C), respectively, and indent-
ing appropriately; and 
(II) by striking the subsection 
designation and heading and all that 
follows through ‘‘Subsections’’ in the 
matter preceding subparagraph (A) 
(as so redesignated) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(5) 
ELECTRIC
VEHICLE
CHARGING
PRO-
GRAMS.—Subsections’’; and 
(vi) in subsection (d) (as so amended) 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) VEHICLE-TO-GRID
INTEGRATION.—Sub-
sections (b) and (c) shall not apply to the standard 
established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d) in 
the case of any electric utility in a State if, before 
the date of enactment of this subsection— 
‘‘(A) the State has implemented for the 
electric utility the standard (or a comparable 
standard); 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(B) the State regulatory authority for the 
State or the relevant nonregulated electric util-
ity has conducted a proceeding to consider im-
plementation of the standard (or a comparable 
standard) for the electric utility; or 
‘‘(C) the State legislature has voted on the 
implementation of the standard (or a com-
parable standard) for the electric utility during 
the 3-year period ending on that date of enact-
ment.’’. 
(B) CROSS-REFERENCE.—Section 124 of 
the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 
1978 (16 U.S.C. 2634) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: ‘‘In the case of the 
standard established by paragraph (22) of sec-
tion 111(d), the reference contained in this sec-
tion to the date of enactment of this Act shall 
be deemed to be a reference to the date of en-
actment of that paragraph (22).’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:59 May 20, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3180.IH
H3180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS