Title: A bill to require the Secretary of Energy to establish an energy efficiency materials pilot program.
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish a pilot program to award grants for providing nonprofit buildings with energy-efficiency materials.
The bill reduces the authorization of appropriations for the zero net energy commercial buildings initiative for FY2018.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 981 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 981

 To require the Secretary of Energy to establish an energy efficiency 
                        materials pilot program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 27, 2017

  Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Hoeven) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Secretary of Energy to establish an energy efficiency 
                        materials pilot program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ENERGY EFFICIENCY MATERIALS PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Applicant.--The term ``applicant'' means a nonprofit 
        organization that applies for a grant under this section.
            (2) Energy-efficiency material.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``energy-efficiency 
                material'' means a material (including a product, 
                equipment, or system) the installation of which results 
                in a reduction in use by a nonprofit organization of 
                energy or fuel.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``energy-efficiency 
                material'' includes--
                            (i) a roof or lighting system or component 
                        of the system;
                            (ii) a window;
                            (iii) a door, including a security door;
                            (iv) a heating, ventilation, or air 
                        conditioning system or component of the system 
                        (including insulation and wiring and plumbing 
                        improvements needed to serve a more efficient 
                        system); and
                            (v) a renewable energy generation or 
                        heating system, including a solar, 
                        photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, or biomass 
                        (including wood pellet) system or component of 
                        the system.
            (3) Nonprofit building.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``nonprofit building'' 
                means a building operated and owned by an organization 
                that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 
                Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 
                501(a) of such Code.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``nonprofit building'' 
                includes a building described in subparagraph (A) that 
                is--
                            (i) a hospital;
                            (ii) a youth center;
                            (iii) a school;
                            (iv) a social-welfare program facility;
                            (v) a faith-based organization; or
                            (vi) any other nonresidential and 
                        noncommercial structure.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
    (b) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program to 
award grants for the purpose of providing nonprofit buildings with 
energy-efficiency materials.
    (c) Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may award grants under the 
        program established under subsection (b).
            (2) Application.--The Secretary may award a grant under 
        paragraph (1) if an applicant submits to the Secretary an 
        application at such time, in such form, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may prescribe.
            (3) Criteria for grant.--In determining whether to award a 
        grant under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall apply 
        performance-based criteria, which shall give priority to 
        applicants based on--
                    (A) the energy savings achieved;
                    (B) the cost-effectiveness of the use of energy-
                efficiency materials;
                    (C) an effective plan for evaluation, measurement, 
                and verification of energy savings; and
                    (D) the financial need of the applicant.
            (4) Limitation on individual grant amount.--Each grant 
        awarded under this section shall not exceed $200,000.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2018 through 2022, to remain available until expended.
    (e) Offset.--Section 422(f) of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17082(f)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``2018.'' and inserting 
        ``2017; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2018.''.
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