U.S.A. Electrify Forward Act
Bill: H.R.1879 | Sponsor: Rep. Dingell, Debbie (D-MI)
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
U.S.A. Electrify Forward Act
This bill provides incentives (e.g., grants and loans) for the development, production, manufacturing, and distribution of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure for such vehicles.

To promote American leadership in vehicle manufacturing, job creation, 
     improved air quality, and climate protection through domestic 
  manufacturing of low- and zero-emission vehicles and development of 
      electric vehicle charging networks, 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 ``U.S.A. Electrify Forward Act''.

SEC. 2. DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING CONVERSION GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Hybrid Vehicles, Advanced Vehicles, and Fuel Cell Buses.--
Subtitle B of title VII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
16061 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in the subtitle header, by inserting ``Plug-In Electric 
        Vehicles,'' before ``Hybrid Vehicles''; and
            (2) in part 1, in the part header, by striking ``hybrid'' 
        and inserting ``plug-in electric''.
    (b) Plug-In Electric Vehicles.--Section 711 of the Energy Policy 
Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16061) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 711. PLUG-IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

    ``The Secretary shall accelerate efforts, related to domestic 
manufacturing, that are directed toward the improvement of batteries, 
power electronics, and other technologies for use in plug-in electric 
vehicles.''.
    (c) Efficient Hybrid and Advanced Diesel Vehicles.--Section 712 of 
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16062) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, plug-in 
                electric,'' after ``efficient hybrid''; and
                    (B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
            ``(3) Priority.--Priority shall be given to--
                    ``(A) the refurbishment or retooling of 
                manufacturing facilities that have recently ceased 
                operation or would otherwise cease operation in the 
                near future; and
                    ``(B) applications containing a written assurance 
                that--
                            ``(i) all laborers and mechanics employed 
                        by contractors or subcontractors during 
                        construction, alteration, retooling, or repair 
                        that is financed, in whole or in part, by a 
                        grant under this subsection shall be paid wages 
                        at rates not less than those prevailing on 
                        similar construction in the locality, as 
                        determined by the Secretary of Labor in 
                        accordance with sections 3141 through 3144, 
                        3146, and 3147 of title 40, United States Code; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) all laborers and mechanics employed 
                        by the owner or operator of a manufacturing 
                        facility that is financed, in whole or in part, 
                        by a grant under this subsection shall be paid 
                        wages at rates not less than those prevailing 
                        on similar construction in the locality, as 
                        determined by the Secretary of Labor in 
                        accordance with sections 3141 through 3144, 
                        3146, and 3147 of title 40, United States 
                        Code.''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
    ``(c) Cost Share and Guarantee of Operation.--
            ``(1) Condition.--A recipient of a grant under this section 
        shall pay the Secretary the full amount of the grant if the 
        facility financed in whole or in part under this subsection 
        fails to manufacture goods for a period of at least 10 years 
        after the completion of construction.
            ``(2) Cost share.--Section 988(c) shall apply to a grant 
        made under this subsection.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $2.5 billion 
for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2031.
    ``(e) Period of Availability.--An award made under this section 
after the date of enactment of this subsection shall only be available 
with respect to facilities and equipment placed in service before 
December 30, 2035.''.
    (d) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 is amended--
            (1) in the item relating to subtitle B of title VII, by 
        inserting ``Plug-In Electric Vehicles,'' before ``Hybrid 
        Vehicles'';
            (2) in the item relating to part 1 of such subtitle, by 
        striking ``Hybrid'' and inserting ``Plug-In Electric''; and
            (3) in the item relating to section 711, by striking 
        ``Hybrid'' and inserting ``Plug-in electric''.

SEC. 3. MODEL BUILDING CODE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY EQUIPMENT.

    (a) Review.--The Secretary shall review proposed or final model 
building codes for--
            (1) integrating electric vehicle supply equipment into 
        residential and commercial buildings that include space for 
        individual vehicle or fleet vehicle parking; and
            (2) integrating onsite renewable power equipment and 
        electric storage equipment (including electric vehicle 
        batteries to be used for electric storage) into residential and 
        commercial buildings.
    (b) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide technical 
assistance to stakeholders representing the building construction 
industry, manufacturers of electric vehicles and electric vehicle 
supply equipment, State and local governments, and any other persons 
with relevant expertise or interests to facilitate understanding of the 
model code and best practices for adoption by jurisdictions.

SEC. 4. TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION.

    Section 131 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17011) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(6)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, including 
                ground support equipment at ports'' before the 
                semicolon;
                    (B) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ``and 
                vehicles'' before the semicolon;
                    (C) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (D) in subparagraph (I)--
                            (i) by striking ``battery chargers,''; and
                            (ii) by striking the period at the end and 
                        inserting a semicolon; and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(J) installation of electric vehicle supply 
                equipment for recharging plug-in electric drive 
                vehicles, including such equipment that is accessible 
                in rural and urban areas and in underserved or 
                disadvantaged communities and such equipment for 
                medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including at depots 
                and in-route locations;
                    ``(K) multi-use charging hubs used for multiple 
                forms of transportation;
                    ``(L) medium- and heavy-duty vehicle smart charging 
                management and refueling;
                    ``(M) battery recycling and secondary use, 
                including for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles; and
                    ``(N) sharing of best practices, and technical 
                assistance provided by the Department to public 
                utilities commissions and utilities, for medium- and 
                heavy-duty vehicle electrification.'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3)(A)(ii), by inserting ``, 
                components for such vehicles, and charging equipment 
                for such vehicles'' after ``vehicles''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (6), by striking ``$90,000,000 for 
                each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012'' and inserting 
                ``$2,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
                2031'';
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in the header, by striking ``Near-Term'' and 
                inserting ``Large-Scale''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``$95,000,000 for 
                each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013'' and inserting 
                ``$2,500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
                2031''; and
            (4) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e) and 
        inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Priority.--In providing grants under subsections (b) and (c), 
the Secretary shall give priority consideration to applications that 
contain a written assurance that all laborers and mechanics employed by 
contractors or subcontractors during construction, alteration, or 
repair that is financed, in whole or in part, by a grant provided 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 in accordance with sections 3141 through 3144, 
3146, and 3147 of title 40, United States Code (and the Secretary of 
Labor shall, with respect to the labor standards described in this 
clause, have the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization 
Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (5 U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 of title 40, 
United States Code).''.

SEC. 5. STATE CONSIDERATION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING.

    (a) Consideration and Determination Respecting Certain Ratemaking 
Standards.--Section 111(d) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies 
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621(d)) is further amended by adding at the end 
the following:
            ``(20) Electric vehicle charging programs.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each State shall consider 
                measures to promote greater electrification of the 
                transportation sector, including--
                            ``(i) authorizing measures to stimulate 
                        investment in and deployment of electric 
                        vehicle supply equipment and to foster the 
                        market for electric vehicle charging;
                            ``(ii) authorizing each electric utility of 
                        the State to recover from ratepayers any 
                        capital, operating expenditure, or other costs 
                        of the electric utility relating to load 
                        management, programs, or investments associated 
                        with the integration of electric vehicle supply 
                        equipment into the grid; and
                            ``(iii) allowing a person or agency that 
                        owns and operates an electric vehicle charging 
                        facility for the sole purpose of recharging an 
                        electric vehicle battery to be excluded from 
                        regulation as an electric utility pursuant to 
                        section 3(4) when making electricity sales from 
                        the use of the electric vehicle charging 
                        facility, if such sales are the only sales of 
                        electricity made by the person or agency.
                    ``(B) Definition.--For purposes of this paragraph, 
                the term `electric vehicle supply equipment' means 
                conductors, including ungrounded, grounded, and 
                equipment grounding conductors, electric vehicle 
                connectors, attachment plugs, and all other fittings, 
                devices, power outlets, or apparatuses installed 
                specifically for the purpose of delivering energy to an 
                electric vehicle.''.
    (b) Obligations To Consider and Determine.--
            (1) Time limitations.--Section 112(b) of the Public Utility 
        Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2622(b)) is amended 
        by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7)(A) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
        of this paragraph, each State regulatory authority (with 
        respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking 
        authority) and each nonregulated electric utility shall 
        commence the consideration referred to in section 111, or set a 
        hearing date for consideration, with respect to the standards 
        established by paragraph (20) of section 111(d).
            ``(B) Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
        enactment of this paragraph, each State regulatory authority 
        (with respect to each electric utility for which it has 
        ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated electric utility, 
        shall complete the consideration, and shall make the 
        determination, referred to in section 111 with respect to each 
        standard established by paragraph (20) of section 111(d).''.
            (2) Failure to comply.--Section 112(c) of the Public 
        Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2622(c)) is 
        amended by adding at the end the following: ``In the case of 
        the standard established by paragraph (20) of section 111(d), 
        the reference contained in this subsection to the date of 
        enactment of this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
        date of enactment of that paragraph.''.
            (3) Prior state actions.--Section 112 of the Public Utility 
        Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2622) is amended by 
        adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Prior State Actions.--Subsections (b) and (c) of this section 
shall not apply to the standard established by paragraph (20) of 
section 111(d) in the case of any electric utility in a State if, 
before the enactment of this subsection--
            ``(1) the State has implemented for such utility the 
        standard concerned (or a comparable standard);
            ``(2) the State regulatory authority for such State or 
        relevant nonregulated electric utility has conducted a 
        proceeding to consider implementation of the standard concerned 
        (or a comparable standard) for such utility;
            ``(3) the State legislature has voted on the implementation 
        of such standard (or a comparable standard) for such utility; 
        or
            ``(4) the State has taken action to implement incentives or 
        other steps to strongly encourage the deployment of electric 
        vehicles.''.
            (4) Prior and pending proceedings.--Section 124 of the 
        Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2634) 
        is amended by adding at the end the following: ``In the case of 
        the standard established by paragraph (20) of section 111(d), 
        the reference contained in this section to the date of the 
        enactment of this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
        date of enactment of such paragraph (20).''.
                                 <all>