Power Line Resiliency Act
Bill: H.R.3717 | Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick (D-NY)
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Power Line Resiliency Act
This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a five-year program to provide grants to electric utilities to (1) improve the performance or efficiency of a power line, (2) make a power line more resilient to an extreme weather event, or (3) otherwise ensure that an end-user has access to electricity during an extreme weather event.
DOE must prioritize providing grants to electric utilities that sell electricity in an area that has a history of extreme weather events.

To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to provide 
                     grants to improve power lines.

    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 ``Power Line Resiliency Act''.

SEC. 2. POWER LINE IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Energy shall establish a 
program to provide grants to electric utilities to carry out eligible 
activities.
    (b) Grants.--
            (1) Application.--To apply for a grant provided under this 
        section, an electric utility shall submit to the Secretary of 
        Energy an application at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary of Energy may 
        require.
            (2) Selection.--The Secretary of Energy shall provide 
        grants under this section--
                    (A) on a competitive basis; and
                    (B) to geographically diverse electric utilities.
            (3) Priority.--The Secretary of Energy shall prioritize 
        providing a grant under this section to any electric utility 
        that sells electricity in an area that has a history of extreme 
        weather events.
    (c) Sunset.--The program established under subsection (a) shall 
terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of 
this section.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Electric utility.--The term ``electric utility'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 3(22) of the Federal 
        Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796(22)).
            (2) Eligible activity.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``eligible activity'' 
                means an activity that--
                            (i) is designed to improve the performance 
                        or efficiency of a power line;
                            (ii) makes a power line more resilient to 
                        an extreme weather event; or
                            (iii) otherwise ensures that an end-user 
                        has access to electricity during an extreme 
                        weather event.
                    (B) Includes.--The term ``eligible activity'' 
                includes--
                            (i) burying a power line;
                            (ii) hardening a power line; and
                            (iii) if burying a power line is not 
                        feasible, providing a generator to a household 
                        that is located in a remote area.
            (3) Extreme weather event.--The term ``extreme weather 
        event'' means an historically rare or severe natural disaster, 
        including a heat wave, drought, flood, tornado, and hurricane.
            (4) Power line.--The term ``power line'' includes 
        distribution lines and transmission lines.
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