I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3522 
To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program to facilitate 
tree planting that reduces residential energy consumption, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 25, 2021 
Ms. MATSUI (for herself, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. MCKINLEY, and 
Mr. FORTENBERRY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant pro-
gram to facilitate tree planting that reduces residential 
energy consumption, 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 ‘‘Trees for Residential 
Energy and Economic Savings Act of 2021’’ or the 
‘‘TREES Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. TREE PLANTING GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es-
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tablish a program under which the Secretary may award 
grants to eligible entities to facilitate covered projects in 
accordance with this section. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the Program, 
the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Agri-
culture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. 
(c) APPLICATIONS.—To receive a grant under the 
Program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary 
an application at such time, in such form, and containing 
such information as the Secretary may require, including 
the following: 
(1) A description of how the proposed covered 
project will reduce residential energy consumption. 
(2) An estimate of the expected reduction in 
residential energy consumption to be achieved by the 
covered project. 
(3) A description of the total eligible costs of 
the project and other sources of funding for the cov-
ered project. 
(4) A description of anticipated community en-
gagement in the covered project. 
(5) A description of the tree species to be plant-
ed under the covered project and the suitability of 
such species to the local environment. 
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(d) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under the Pro-
gram, the Secretary shall give priority to covered projects 
that— 
(1) provide the largest potential reduction in 
residential energy consumption for households with a 
high energy burden; 
(2) provide maximum amounts of— 
(A) shade during periods when residences 
are exposed to the most sun intensity; and 
(B) wind protection during periods when 
residences are exposed to the most wind inten-
sity; 
(3) are located in a neighborhood with a low 
percentage of tree canopy cover; 
(4) are located in a neighborhood with a high 
percentage of senior citizens or children; 
(5) are located in an area where the average 
annual income is below the regional median; 
(6) will collaboratively engage community mem-
bers to be affected by the tree planting; and 
(7) will employ local residents as a substantial 
percentage of the workforce of the covered project, 
with a focus on local residents who are unemployed 
or underemployed. 
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(e) TREE PLANTING GOALS.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, the Secretary shall, to the max-
imum extent practicable, award grants under the Program 
in a manner that facilitates the planting of at least 
300,000 trees each year. 
(f) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 
of a covered project assisted by a grant awarded under 
the Program shall be 90 percent. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program, 
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED
PROJECT.—The term ‘‘covered 
project’’ means a tree planting project carried out to 
reduce residential energy consumption. 
(2) ELIGIBLE COST.—The term ‘‘eligible cost’’ 
means, with respect to a covered project— 
(A) the cost of carrying out the project, in-
cluding— 
(i) planning and design activities; 
(ii) establishing nurseries to supply 
trees; 
(iii) purchasing trees; and 
(iv) preparing sites and planting trees; 
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(B) the cost of maintaining and monitoring 
planted trees for a period of not more than 3 
years; 
(C) the cost of training activities; and 
(D) any other cost determined appropriate 
by the Secretary. 
(3) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means each of the following: 
(A) A State government entity. 
(B) A local government entity. 
(C) An Indian Tribe. 
(D) A nonprofit organization. 
(E) A retail power provider. 
(4) ENERGY BURDEN.—The term ‘‘energy bur-
den’’ means the percentage of household income 
spent on residential energy bills. 
(5) 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). 
(6) LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY.—The term 
‘‘local government entity’’ means any municipal gov-
ernment or county government entity with jurisdic-
tion over local land use decisions. 
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(7) NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘‘nonprofit organization’’ means an organization de-
scribed in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 
501(a) of such Code. 
(8) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means 
the program established under subsection (a). 
(9) RETAIL POWER PROVIDER.—The term ‘‘re-
tail power provider’’ means any entity authorized 
under State or Federal law to generate, distribute, 
or provide retail electricity, natural gas, or fuel oil 
service. 
(10) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means the Secretary of Energy. 
Æ 
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