Renewable Energy for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Act
Bill: H.R.2791 | Sponsor: Rep. Lieu, Ted (D-CA)
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Renewable Energy for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Act
This bill addresses renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Specifically, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish a grant program under which USDA may award grants for renewable energy systems, energy efficiency activities, energy storage, smart grids, or microgrids. In addition, USDA may award grants to train residents of Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands to develop, construct, maintain, or operate renewable energy systems.
The Department of Energy must ensure that its national laboratories offer to provide technical assistance to grant recipients.
The Government Accountability Office must study and report on renewable energy and energy efficiency in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a renewable energy 
  grant program for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands of the United 
                    States, 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 ``Renewable Energy for Puerto Rico and 
the U.S. Virgin Islands Act''.

SEC. 2. RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a 
renewable energy program (in this section referred to as the 
``program'') under which the Secretary may award grants to covered 
entities to facilitate projects, in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands 
of the United States, described in subsection (c).
    (b) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under the program, a 
covered entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such 
time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require.
    (c) Grant Uses.--
            (1) In general.--A covered entity receiving a grant under 
        the program may use grant funds for a project, in Puerto Rico 
        or the Virgin Islands of the United States--
                    (A) to develop or construct a renewable energy 
                system;
                    (B) to carry out an activity to increase energy 
                efficiency;
                    (C) to develop or construct an energy storage 
                system or device for--
                            (i) a system developed or constructed under 
                        subparagraph (A); or
                            (ii) an activity carried out under 
                        subparagraph (B);
                    (D) to develop or construct--
                            (i) a smart grid; or
                            (ii) a microgrid; or
                    (E) to train residents of Puerto Rico or the Virgin 
                Islands of the United States to develop, construct, 
                maintain, or operate a renewable energy system.
            (2) Limitation.--A covered entity receiving a grant under 
        the program may not use grant funds to develop or construct a 
        facility that generates electricity using energy derived from--
                    (A) fossil fuels; or
                    (B) nuclear power.
    (d) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary of Energy shall ensure 
that Department of Energy national laboratories offer to provide 
technical assistance to each covered entity carrying out a project 
assisted with a grant under the program.
    (e) Report.--Not later than two years after the establishment of 
the program, and on an annual basis thereafter, the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report containing--
            (1) an estimate of the amount of funds disbursed under the 
        program;
            (2) an estimate of the energy conservation achieved as a 
        result of the program;
            (3) a description of challenges encountered in implementing 
        projects described in subsection (c)(1); and
            (4) recommendations as to additional legislative measures 
        to increase the use of renewable energy in Puerto Rico and the 
        Virgin Islands of the United States, as appropriate.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 3. GAO STUDY AND REPORT.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Study and report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
        United States shall--
                    (A) conduct a study regarding renewable energy and 
                energy efficiency in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands 
                of the United States; and
                    (B) submit to Congress a report containing--
                            (i) the findings of the study; and
                            (ii) related recommendations.
            (2) Components.--The study conducted under paragraph (1) 
        shall consider, in relation to Puerto Rico and the Virgin 
        Islands of the United States, the potential--
                    (A) to modify existing electric power systems to 
                use renewable energy sources;
                    (B) to expand the use of microgrids; and
                    (C) to improve energy resiliency.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $1,500,000 to carry out this section.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means a 
        not-for-profit organization determined eligible by the 
        Secretary of Agriculture for purposes of this Act.
            (2) Department of energy national laboratories.--The term 
        ``Department of Energy national laboratories'' has the same 
        meaning as the term ``National Laboratory'' under section 2 of 
        the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
            (3) Microgrid.--The term ``microgrid'' means an electric 
        system--
                    (A) that serves the local community with a power 
                generation and distribution system; and
                    (B) that has the ability--
                            (i) to disconnect from a traditional 
                        electric grid; and
                            (ii) to operate autonomously when 
                        disconnected.
            (4) Renewable energy; renewable energy system.--The terms 
        ``renewable energy'' and ``renewable energy system'' have the 
        meanings given those terms in section 9001 of the Farm Security 
        and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8101).
            (5) Smart grid.--The term ``smart grid'' means an 
        intelligent electric grid that uses digital communications 
        technology, information systems, and automation to, while 
        maintaining high system reliability--
                    (A) detect and react to local changes in usage;
                    (B) improve system operating efficiency; and
                    (C) reduce spending costs.
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