Public Housing Solar Equity Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.2792 | Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. (D-NY)
Policy area: Housing and Community Development

Summary:
Public Housing Solar Equity Act of 2021
This bill requires public housing agencies (PHAs) to take certain actions when selling or leasing assets in connection with a solar energy project.
Specifically, a PHA must ensure that such a sale or lease financially benefits the residents of the public housing project as well as the budget of the PHA. Further, if a buyer or lessee intends to derive a product or service from the asset, the PHA must require that the product or service be offered and provided to residents of the public housing project before being offered and provided to nonresidents.
Additionally, a PHA must include certain information regarding assets it intends to sell or lease in the upcoming year in its annual plan.

To require sales and leases of assets of public housing projects in 
   connection with solar energy projects to financially benefit the 
 residents of such public housing project and the budget of the public 
  housing agency that owns such public housing project, 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 ``Public Housing Solar Equity Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY SALES OR LEASES OF PHA ASSETS IN 
              CONNECTION WITH SOLAR ENERGY PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 9 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 
(42 U.S.C. 1437g) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(p) Sale or Lease of Assets.--If a public housing agency sells or 
leases any asset (including roof space or parking) of a public housing 
project owned by such public housing agency in connection with a solar 
energy project, such public housing agency shall--
            ``(1) ensure that such sale or lease financially benefits, 
        as determined by a cost-benefit analysis that is conducted 
        using generally accepted accounting standards and is made 
        publicly available--
                    ``(A) the residents of such public housing project; 
                and
                    ``(B) the budget of the public housing agency;
            ``(2) if the buyer or lessee of such asset intends to 
        derive a product or services from such asset, require the buyer 
        or lessee of such asset to first offer such product or service 
        derived from such asset to the residents of the public housing 
        project, and provide the product or services to those residents 
        who accept the offer before offering the product or service to 
        non-residents;
            ``(3) make available publicly, not later than 30 days 
        before such sale or lease, information sufficient to 
        demonstrate compliance with paragraphs (1) and (2) of this 
        subsection; and
            ``(4) not later than 1 year after the sale or lease, submit 
        to the Secretary a report that describes how the sale or lease 
        complies with this subsection.''.
    (b) PHA Annual Plan.--Section 5A(d) of the United States Housing 
Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437c-1(d)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (19) as paragraph (20); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (18) the following:
            ``(19) Sale or lease of assets.--With regard to any assets 
        of any public housing project owned by the public housing 
        agency that the public housing agency intends to sell or lease 
        in connection with a solar energy project in the upcoming 
        year--
                    ``(A) a description of the asset;
                    ``(B) a description of the proposed terms of the 
                sale or lease, if possible; and
                    ``(C) a description of how the lease or sale will 
                comply with section 9(p), including how such sale or 
                lease financially benefits, as determined by a cost-
                benefit analysis that is conducted using generally 
                accepted accounting standards, the residents of the 
                public housing project and the budget of the public 
                housing agency.''.
    (c) Rule of Construction.--This section and the amendments made by 
this section may not be construed to authorize or encourage the sale or 
lease of any public housing asset.
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