Energy Equity Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.1375 | Sponsor: Rep. Rush, Bobby L. (D-IL)
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Energy Equity Act of 2021
This bill establishes an Office of Energy Equity within the Department of Energy. The office must (1) promote an agencywide environmental justice strategy and interagency collaboration, (2) reduce or stabilize energy costs within underserved or disadvantaged communities, and (3) increase the availability of energy conservation measures within underserved or disadvantaged communities.

To amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to establish an 
            Office of Energy Equity, 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 ``Energy Equity Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. OFFICE OF ENERGY EQUITY.

    (a) In General.--Title II of the Department of Energy Organization 
Act (42 U.S.C. 7131 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 218. OFFICE OF ENERGY EQUITY.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Department an 
Office of Energy Equity (referred to in this section as the `Office'). 
The Office shall be headed by a Director, who shall be appointed by the 
Secretary and compensated at a rate equal to that of level IV of the 
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.
    ``(b) Duties of the Director.--The Director, in accordance with 
Executive Order 12898 (42 U.S.C. 4321 note) and the purposes of this 
Act, shall provide, direct, foster, coordinate, and implement energy 
planning, education, management, conservation, and delivery programs of 
the Department that--
            ``(1) promote an agency-wide environmental justice strategy 
        and interagency collaboration;
            ``(2) reduce or stabilize energy costs within underserved 
        or disadvantaged communities; and
            ``(3) increase the availability of energy conservation 
        measures within underserved or disadvantaged communities.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Energy conservation measures.--The term `energy 
        conservation measures' means measures that improve energy 
        efficiency, energy conservation, or access to renewable energy 
        sources, including retrofit activities.
            ``(2) Underserved or disadvantages community.--The term 
        `underserved or disadvantaged community' means--
                    ``(A) a community located in a ZIP Code that 
                includes a census tract that is identified as--
                            ``(i) a low-income community; or
                            ``(ii) a community of color; or
                    ``(B) any other community that the Secretary 
                determines is disproportionately vulnerable to, or 
                bears a disproportionate burden of, any combination of 
                economic, social, and environmental stressors.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2021 through 2025.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents of the Department 
of Energy Organization Act is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 217 the following:

``Sec. 218. Office of Energy Equity.''.
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