535 
(7) TELECOMMUTING.—The term ‘‘telecommuting’’ means the use of 
telecommunications to perform work functions under circumstances 
that reduce or eliminate the need to commute. 
(8) TELECOMMUTING PILOT PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘telecommuting 
pilot program’’ means the pilot program established under subsection 
(d). 
(b) GOVERNMENTWIDE PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall promulgate final rules 
establishing the Governmentwide program authorized under subsection 
(d) of section 337 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 
U.S.C. 6307) that ensure compliance with that subsection. 
(2) ASSISTANCE.—The Administrator shall develop and coordinate a 
Governmentwide program, building on the Energy Star for Small Busi-
ness program, to assist small business concerns in— 
(A) becoming more energy efficient; 
(B) understanding the cost savings from improved energy effi-
ciency; and 
(C) identifying financing options for energy efficiency upgrades. 
(3) CONSULTATION AND COOPERATION.—The Governmentwide pro-
gram shall be developed and coordinated— 
(A) in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and the Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; and 
(B) in cooperation with any entities that the Administrator con-
siders appropriate, such as industry trade associations, industry 
members, and energy efficiency organizations. 
(4) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.—The Administrator shall make 
available the information and materials developed under the Govern-
mentwide program to— 
(A) small business concerns, including smaller design, engineer-
ing, and construction firms; and 
(B) other Federal programs for energy efficiency, such as the 
Energy Star for Small Business program. 
(5) STRATEGY.—The Administrator shall develop a strategy to edu-
cate, encourage, and assist small business concerns in adopting energy 
efficient building fixtures and equipment. 
(c) EFFICIENCY PROGRAM.— 
(1) AUTHORITY.—The Administrator shall establish a small business 
energy efficiency program to provide energy efficiency assistance to 
small business concerns through small business development centers. 
(2) SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the efficiency program, the 
Administrator shall enter into agreements with small business de-
velopment centers under which small business development centers 
shall— 
(i) provide access to information and resources on energy 
efficiency practices, including on-bill financing options; 
(ii) conduct training and educational activities; 
(iii) offer confidential, free, one-on-one, in-depth energy au-
dits to owners and operators of small business concerns re-
garding energy efficiency practices; 
(iv) give referrals to certified professionals and other pro-
viders of energy efficiency assistance that meet such stand-
ards for educational, technical, and professional competency 
as the Administrator shall establish; 
(v) to the extent not inconsistent with controlling State 
public utility regulations, act as a facilitator between small 
business concerns, electric utilities, lenders, and the Adminis-
trator to facilitate on-bill financing arrangements; 
(vi) provide necessary support to small business concerns 
to— 
(I) evaluate energy efficiency opportunities and oppor-
tunities to design or construct high-performance green 
buildings; 
(II) evaluate renewable energy sources, such as the 
use of solar and small wind energy to supplement power 
consumption; 
(III) secure financing to achieve energy efficiency or 
to design or construct high-performance green buildings; 
and 
(IV) implement energy efficiency projects; 
(vii) assist owners and operators of small business concerns 
with the development and commercialization of clean tech-
nology products, goods, services, and processes that use re-
newable energy sources, dramatically reduce the use of nat-
ural resources, and cut or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions 
through— 
(I) technology assessment; 
(II) intellectual property; 
(III) small business innovation research submissions 
under division I of subtitle II; 
(IV) strategic alliances; 
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(V) business model development; and 
(VI) preparation for investors; and 
(viii) help small business concerns improve environmental 
performance by shifting to less hazardous materials and re-
ducing waste and emissions, including by providing assistance 
for small business concerns to adapt the materials they use, 
the processes they operate, and the products and services they 
produce. 
(B) REPORTS.—A small business development center partici-
pating in the efficiency program shall submit to the Administrator 
and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency an 
annual report that includes— 
(i) a summary of the energy efficiency assistance provided 
by the small business development center under the efficiency 
program; 
(ii) the number of small business concerns assisted by the 
small business development center under the efficiency pro-
gram; 
(iii) statistics on the total amount of energy saved as a re-
sult of assistance provided by that center under the efficiency 
program; and 
(iv) any additional information that the Administrator, in 
consultation with the Association, determines to be necessary. 
(C) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date on which all reports under subparagraph (B) relating to a 
year are submitted, the Administrator shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and 
the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives 
a report summarizing the information regarding the efficiency pro-
gram submitted by small business development centers partici-
pating in the efficiency program. 
(3) ELIGIBILITY.—A small business development center shall be eli-
gible to participate in the efficiency program only if the small business 
development center is accredited under section 271111(b) of this title. 
(4) SELECTION OF PARTICIPATING STATE PROGRAMS.—From among 
small business development centers submitting applications to partici-
pate in the efficiency program, the Administrator— 
(A) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, select small busi-
ness development centers in such a manner as to promote a na-
tionwide distribution of small business development centers partici-
pating in the efficiency program; and 
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(B) may not select more than 1 small business development cen-
ter in a State to participate in the efficiency program. 
(5) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—Section 271102(g)(1) of this title 
shall apply to assistance made available under the efficiency program. 
(6) GRANT AMOUNTS.—A small business development center selected 
to participate in the efficiency program under paragraph (4) shall be 
eligible to receive a grant in an amount equal to not less than 
$100,000 nor more than $300,000 in each fiscal year. 
(7) EVALUATION AND REPORT.—The Comptroller General shall— 
(A) not later than 30 months after the date of disbursement of 
the 1st grant under the efficiency program, initiate an evaluation 
of the efficiency program; and 
(B) not later than 6 months after the date of the initiation of 
the evaluation under subparagraph (A), submit to the Adminis-
trator, the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of 
the Senate, and the Committee on Small Business of the House 
of Representatives a report containing— 
(i) the results of the evaluation; and 
(ii) any recommendations regarding whether the efficiency 
program, with or without modification, should be extended to 
include the participation of all small business development 
centers. 
(8) GUARANTEE.—To the extent not inconsistent with State law, the 
Administrator may guarantee the timely payment of a loan made to a 
small business concern through an on-bill financing agreement on such 
terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish through a 
formal rulemaking, after providing notice and an opportunity for com-
ment. 
(9) IMPLEMENTATION.—Subject to amounts approved in advance in 
appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to carry out 
section 271102(a) of this title, the Administrator may make grants or 
enter into cooperative agreements to carry out this subsection. 
(10) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to 
be appropriated such sums as are necessary to make grants and enter 
into cooperative agreements to carry out this subsection. 
(11) TERMINATION.—The authority under this subsection shall ter-
minate 4 years after the date of disbursement of the 1st grant under 
the efficiency program. 
(d) TELECOMMUTING PILOT PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall conduct, in not more 
than 5 SBA regions, a pilot program to provide information regarding 
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