Clean Cities Act
Bill: H.R.5568 | Sponsor: Rep. McEachin, A. Donald (D-VA)
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Clean Cities Act
This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to carry out a Clean Cities Coalition Program. Under the program, DOE must make awards to clean city coalitions or nonprofit organizations for projects and activities that reduce petroleum consumption, improve air quality, promote energy and economic security, and encourage deployment of a diverse, domestic supply of alternative fuels in the transportation sector. DOE must also ensure that there are active coalitions working in all states, the District of Columbia, and the territories.
In addition, DOE must provide technical assistance and training to the coalitions, provide opportunities for communication and sharing of best practices among the coalitions, and maintain and publish a centralized database of information about the activities and accomplishments of the coalitions.

To require the Secretary of Energy to carry out a Clean Cities 
               Coalition Program, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Clean Cities Act''.

SEC. 2. CLEAN CITIES COALITION PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a program to be 
known as the Clean Cities Coalition Program.
    (b) Program Elements.--In carrying out the program under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall--
            (1) establish criteria for designating local and regional 
        Clean Cities Coalitions, including criteria that ensure that 
        activities of Clean Cities Coalitions benefit all communities, 
        including rural communities and environmental justice 
        communities;
            (2) designate local and regional Clean Cities Coalitions 
        that the Secretary determines meet the criteria established 
        under paragraph (1);
            (3) ensure that there are active Clean Cities Coalitions 
        working in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the 
        territories;
            (4) make awards to each designated Clean Cities Coalition 
        for administrative and program expenses of the coalition;
            (5) make competitive awards to designated Clean Cities 
        Coalitions for projects and activities described in subsection 
        (c);
            (6) make competitive awards to non-profit organizations to 
        provide technical assistance, training, and organizational 
        support to designated Clean Cities Coalitions;
            (7) provide opportunities for communication and sharing of 
        best practices among designated Clean Cities Coalitions; and
            (8) maintain, and make available to the public, a 
        centralized database of information included in the reports 
        submitted under subsection (d).
    (c) Competitive Awards.--
            (1) Projects and activities.--Projects and activities 
        eligible for awards under subsection (b)(5) are projects and 
        activities that reduce petroleum consumption, improve air 
        quality, promote energy and economic security, and encourage 
        deployment of a diverse, domestic supply of alternative fuels 
        in the transportation sector by--
                    (A) encouraging the purchase and use of alternative 
                fuel vehicles and alternative fuels, including by fleet 
                managers;
                    (B) expediting the establishment of local, 
                regional, and national infrastructure to fuel 
                alternative fuel vehicles;
                    (C) advancing the use of other petroleum fuel 
                reduction technologies and strategies;
                    (D) conducting outreach and education activities to 
                advance the use of alternative fuels and alternative 
                fuel vehicles;
                    (E) providing training and technical assistance and 
                tools to users that adopt petroleum fuel reduction 
                technologies; or
                    (F) collaborating with and training officials and 
                first responders with responsibility for permitting and 
                enforcing fire, building, and other safety codes 
                related to the deployment and use of alternative fuels 
                or alternative fuel vehicles.
            (2) Cost share.--The Federal share of the cost of a project 
        or activity for which an award is made under subsection (b)(5) 
        shall be not less than 80 percent.
    (d) Annual Report.--Each designated Clean Cities Coalition shall 
submit an annual report to the Secretary on the activities and 
accomplishments of the coalition.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Alternative fuel.--The term ``alternative fuel'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 32901 of title 49, 
        United States Code.
            (2) Alternative fuel vehicle.--The term ``alternative fuel 
        vehicle'' means any vehicle that is capable of operating, 
        partially or exclusively, on an alternative fuel.
            (3) Community of color.--The term ``community of color'' 
        means any geographically distinct area the population of color 
        of which is higher than the average population of color of the 
        State in which the community is located.
            (4) Environmental justice community.--The term 
        ``environmental justice community'' means any population of 
        color, community of color, indigenous community, or low-income 
        community that experiences a disproportionate burden of the 
        negative human health and environmental impacts of pollution or 
        other environmental hazards.
            (5) Indigenous community.--The term ``indigenous 
        community'' means--
                    (A) a federally recognized Indian Tribe;
                    (B) a State-recognized Indian Tribe;
                    (C) an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community 
                or organization; and
                    (D) any other community of indigenous people, 
                including communities in other countries.
            (6) Low income.--The term ``low income'' means an annual 
        household income equal to, or less than, the greater of--
                    (A) an amount equal to 80 percent of the median 
                income of the area in which the household is located, 
                as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban 
                Development; and
                    (B) 200 percent of the Federal poverty line.
            (7) Low-income community.--The term ``low-income 
        community'' means any census block group in which 30 percent or 
        more of the population are individuals with low income.
            (8) Population of color.--The term ``population of color'' 
        means a population of individuals who identify as--
                    (A) Black;
                    (B) African American;
                    (C) Asian;
                    (D) Pacific Islander;
                    (E) another non-White race;
                    (F) Hispanic;
                    (G) Latino; or
                    (H) linguistically isolated.
            (9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
    (f) Funding.--
            (1) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2022 through 2031, to remain available 
        until expended.
            (2) Allocations.--The Secretary shall allocate funds made 
        available to carry out this section in each fiscal year as 
        follows:
                    (A) 35 percent of such funds shall be distributed 
                as awards under subsection (b)(4).
                    (B) 50 percent of such funds shall be distributed 
                as competitive awards under subsection (b)(5), of which 
                not less than 40 percent shall be used to support 
                activities that directly benefit rural communities or 
                environmental justice communities.
                    (C) 5 percent of such funds shall be distributed as 
                competitive awards under subsection (b)(6).
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