Renew America’s Schools Act of 2017

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Renew America's Schools Act of 
2017''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS AND RENEWABLE ENERGY 
              IMPROVEMENTS AT PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        consortium of--
                    (A) one local educational agency; and
                    (B) one or more--
                            (i) schools;
                            (ii) nonprofit organizations;
                            (iii) for-profit organizations; or
                            (iv) community partners that have the 
                        knowledge and capacity to partner and assist 
                        with energy improvements.
            (2) Energy improvements.--The term ``energy improvements'' 
        means--
                    (A) any improvement, repair, or renovation, to a 
                school that will result in a direct reduction in school 
                energy costs including but not limited to improvements 
                to building envelope, air conditioning, ventilation, 
                heating system, domestic hot water heating, compressed 
                air systems, distribution systems, lighting, power 
                systems and controls;
                    (B) any improvement, repair, renovation, or 
                installation that leads to an improvement in teacher 
                and student health including but not limited to indoor 
                air quality, daylighting, ventilation, electrical 
                lighting, and acoustics; and
                    (C) the installation of renewable energy 
                technologies (such as wind power, photovoltaics, solar 
                thermal systems, geothermal energy, hydrogen-fueled 
                systems, biomass-based systems, biofuels, anaerobic 
                digesters, and hydropower) involved in the improvement, 
                repair, or renovation to a school.
    (b) Authority.--From amounts made available for grants under this 
section, the Secretary of Energy shall provide competitive grants to 
eligible entities to make energy improvements authorized by this 
section.
    (c) Priority.--In making grants under this subsection, the 
Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that have 
renovation, repair, and improvement funding needs and are--
            (1) a high-need local educational agency, as defined in 
        section 2102 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 6602); or
            (2) a local educational agency designated with a 
        metrocentric locale code of 41, 42, or 43 as determined by the 
        National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in conjunction 
        with the Bureau of the Census, using the NCES system for 
        classifying local educational agencies.
    (d) Competitive Criteria.--The competitive criteria used by the 
Secretary shall include the following:
            (1) The fiscal capacity of the eligible entity to meet the 
        needs for improvements of school facilities without assistance 
        under this section, including the ability of the eligible 
        entity to raise funds through the use of local bonding capacity 
        and otherwise.
            (2) The likelihood that the local educational agency or 
        eligible entity will maintain, in good condition, any facility 
        whose improvement is assisted.
            (3) The potential energy efficiency and safety benefits 
        from the proposed energy improvements.
    (e) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, an applicant must submit to the Secretary an application that 
includes each of the following:
            (1) A needs assessment of the current condition of the 
        school and facilities that are to receive the energy 
        improvements.
            (2) A draft work plan of what the applicant hopes to 
        achieve at the school and a description of the energy 
        improvements to be carried out.
            (3) A description of the applicant's capacity to provide 
        services and comprehensive support to make the energy 
        improvements.
            (4) An assessment of the applicant's expected needs for 
        operation and maintenance training funds, and a plan for use of 
        those funds, if any.
            (5) An assessment of the expected energy efficiency and 
        safety benefits of the energy improvements.
            (6) A cost estimate of the proposed energy improvements.
            (7) An identification of other resources that are available 
        to carry out the activities for which funds are requested under 
        this section, including the availability of utility programs 
        and public benefit funds.
    (f) Use of Grant Amounts.--
            (1) In general.--The recipient of a grant under this 
        section shall use the grant amounts only to make the energy 
        improvements contemplated in the application, subject to the 
        other provisions of this subsection.
            (2) Operation and maintenance training.--The recipient may 
        use up to 5 percent for operation and maintenance training for 
        energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements (such as 
        maintenance staff and teacher training, education, and 
        preventative maintenance training).
            (3) Audit.--The recipient may use funds for a third-party 
        investigation and analysis for energy improvements (such as 
        energy audits and existing building commissioning).
            (4) Continuing education.--The recipient may use up to 1 
        percent of the grant amounts to develop a continuing education 
        curriculum relating to energy improvements.
    (g) Contracting Requirements.--
            (1) Davis-bacon.--Any laborer or mechanic employed by any 
        contractor or subcontractor in the performance of work on any 
        energy improvements funded by a grant under this section shall 
        be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on 
        similar construction in the locality as determined by the 
        Secretary of Labor under subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 
        40, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Davis-Bacon 
        Act).
            (2) Competition.--Each applicant that receives funds shall 
        ensure that, if the applicant carries out repair or renovation 
        through a contract, any such contract process--
                    (A) ensures the maximum number of qualified 
                bidders, including small, minority, and women-owned 
                businesses, through full and open competition; and
                    (B) gives priority to businesses located in, or 
                resources common to, the State or the geographical area 
                in which the project is carried out.
    (h) Reporting.--Each recipient of a grant under this section shall 
submit to the Secretary, at such time as the Secretary may require, a 
report describing the use of such funds for energy improvements, the 
estimated cost savings realized by those energy improvements, the 
results of any audit, the use of any utility programs and public 
benefit funds and the use of performance tracking for energy 
improvements (such as the Department of Energy: Energy Star program or 
LEED for Existing Buildings).
    (i) Best Practices.--The Secretary shall develop and publish 
guidelines and best practices for activities carried out under this 
section.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2018 through 2023.

Summary: Renew America's Schools Act of 2017  This bill requires the Department of Energy to provide competitive grants for making energy improvements in schools. Specifically, grants may be awarded for:  any improvement, repair, or renovation to a school that will result in a direct reduction in school energy costs;   any improvement, repair, renovation, or installation that leads to an improvement in teacher and student health, such as indoor air quality; and  the installation of renewable energy technologies (e.g., wind power) involved in the improvement, repair, or renovation to a school.