Appalachian Regional Energy Hub Initiative Act
Bill: H.R.4152 | Sponsor: Rep. McKinley, David B. (R-WV)
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Appalachian Regional Energy Hub Initiative Act
This bill authorizes the Appalachian Regional Commission through FY2026. It also requires the commission to provide technical assistance and grants to individuals or entities in the Appalachian region for projects and activities (1) to conduct research and analysis regarding the impact of an ethane storage hub in the region, (2) with the potential to significantly contribute to the economic resilience of the area where the project is located, and (3) that will help establish a regional energy hub in the region for natural gas and natural gas liquids.

To amend title 40, United States Code, to establish an Appalachian 
        regional energy hub initiative, 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 ``Appalachian Regional Energy Hub 
Initiative Act''.

SEC. 2. APPALACHIAN REGIONAL ENERGY HUB.

    (a) Appalachian Regional Energy Hub Initiative.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 145 of subtitle IV 
        of title 40, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
        end the following:
``Sec. 14511. Appalachian regional energy hub initiative
    ``(a) In General.--The Appalachian Regional Commission may provide 
technical assistance to, make grants to, enter into contracts with, or 
otherwise provide amounts to individuals or entities in the Appalachian 
region for projects and activities--
            ``(1) to conduct research and analysis regarding the 
        economic impact of an ethane storage hub in the Appalachian 
        region that supports a more-effective energy market performance 
        due to the scale of the project, such as a project with the 
        capacity to store and distribute more than 100,000 barrels per 
        day of hydrocarbon feedstock with a minimum gross heating value 
        of 1,700 Btu per standard cubic foot;
            ``(2) with the potential to significantly contribute to the 
        economic resilience of the area in which the project is 
        located; and
            ``(3) that will help establish a regional energy hub in the 
        Appalachian region for natural gas and natural gas liquids, 
        including hydrogen produced from the steam methane reforming of 
        natural gas feedstocks.
    ``(b) Limitation on Available Amounts.--Of the cost of any activity 
eligible for a grant under this section--
            ``(1) except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), not 
        more than 50 percent may be provided from amounts made 
        available to carry out this section;
            ``(2) in the case of a project to be carried out in a 
        county for which a distressed county designation is in effect 
        under section 14526, not more than 80 percent may be provided 
        from amounts made available to carry out this section; and
            ``(3) in the case of a project to be carried out in a 
        county for which an at-risk county designation is in effect 
        under section 14526, not more than 70 percent may be provided 
        from amounts made available to carry out this section.
    ``(c) Sources of Assistance.--Subject to subsection (b), a grant 
provided under this section may be provided from amounts made available 
to carry out this section, in combination with amounts made available--
            ``(1) under any other Federal program; or
            ``(2) from any other source.
    ``(d) Federal Share.--Notwithstanding any provision of law limiting 
the Federal share under any other Federal program, amounts made 
available to carry out this section may be used to increase that 
Federal share, as the Appalachian Regional Commission determines to be 
appropriate.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The analysis for subchapter I of 
        chapter 145 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by 
        adding at the end the following:

``14511. Appalachian regional energy hub initiative.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 14703 of title 40, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4) by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (5) by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
        2026.'';
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``$10,000,000 may be 
        used to carry out section 14509 for each of fiscal years 2016 
        through 2021'' and inserting ``$20,000,000 may be used to carry 
        out section 14509 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026'';
            (3) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections 
        (e) and (f), respectively; and
            (4) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Appalachian Regional Energy Hub Initiative.--Of the amounts 
made available under subsection (a), $5,000,000 shall be used to carry 
out section 14511 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.''.
    (c) Termination.--Section 14704 of title 40, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ``2021'' and inserting ``2026''.
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