Title: Low-Income Solar Energy Act
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Low-Income Solar Energy Act
This bill expands access to solar energy for low-income households, including by expanding the Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program, and directing the Department of Energy to establish a solar financing program.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2462 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2462

 To help reduce household energy burdens by expanding access to solar 
                   energy for low-income households.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 11, 2019

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To help reduce household energy burdens by expanding access to solar 
                   energy for low-income households.

    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 ``Low-Income Solar Energy Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the term ``low-income'', used with respect to a 
household, means a household that is eligible for a payment under the 
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.), 
in accordance with--
            (1) section 2605(b)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 8624(b)); and
            (2) State eligibility guidelines (consistent with such Act) 
        for that payment.

SEC. 3. LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 2602 of the Low-
Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence of subsection (b), by striking 
        ``2607A),'' and all that follows and inserting ``2607A), 
        $6,075,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 and each subsequent fiscal 
        year.''; and
            (2) in subsection (e), by striking ``(e) of'' and inserting 
        ``(f) of''.
    (b) Reservation of Funds.--Section 2604 of the Low-Income Home 
Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8623) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
    ``(e)(1) Of the funds available to a State under subsection (a), a 
territory under subsection (b), or a tribal organization or other 
entity under subsection (d), up to 25 percent may be reserved by the 
State, territory, or organization or entity, for solar projects for 
covered housing.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall expand the program funded under section 
2602(b) to include such solar projects, and for purposes of this title 
shall consider--
            ``(A) the funds used for such projects to be assistance for 
        home energy costs; and
            ``(B) the projects to be activities that provide assistance 
        for home energy costs, rather than to residential 
        weatherization or other energy-related home repair.
    ``(3) In determining whether to award, under that program, funding 
that includes a portion for a solar project to a State, territory, or 
tribal organization or entity, the Secretary shall use the application 
and request processes specified in this title, with such adjustments as 
the Secretary may specify in regulations.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall issue regulations and guidance for 
States, territories, and tribal organizations and entities, that 
receive funds under subsection (a), (b), or (d) (referred to 
individually in this subsection as a `covered recipient'), to--
            ``(A) define the solar projects that may be funded through 
        the reserved funds described in paragraph (1);
            ``(B) specify the circumstances and process under which a 
        covered recipient, with an arrangement with a particular type 
        of local agency or organization to distribute assistance for 
        home energy costs, may instead enter into an arrangement with a 
        different local agency or organization with expertise in solar 
        projects, for such projects; and
            ``(C) specify how a covered recipient may distribute such 
        funds in a manner that usefully finances the work of solar 
        project developers and solar panel installers for such 
        projects.
    ``(5) Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the 
Low-Income Solar Energy Act, the Secretary shall--
            ``(A) evaluate whether community solar projects could be 
        administered through the program carried out under this title; 
        and
            ``(B) prepare and submit to Congress a report containing 
        the evaluation.
    ``(6) In this section, the term `covered housing' means federally 
assisted housing as defined in section 683 of the Housing and Community 
Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13641), and housing occupied by a 
low-income household, as defined in section 2 of the Low-Income Solar 
Energy Act.''.
    (c) Use of Funds.--Section 2605(b)(1)(A) of the Low-Income Home 
Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(1)(A)) is amended by 
inserting ``, including the costs of solar projects for covered housing 
as defined in section 2604(e)'' after ``home energy costs''.
    (d) Conforming Amendment.--Section 2609 of the Low-Income Home 
Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8628) is amended by inserting 
``, or carrying out solar projects for covered housing or community 
solar projects under section 2604(e)'' after ``home repairs''.

SEC. 4. SOLAR FINANCING AND WORKFORCE TRAINING.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Community solar project.--The term ``community solar 
        project'' means a project for the renewable generation of 
        energy through solar power that has multiple subscribers that 
        receive benefits on utility bills that are directly 
        attributable to the project.
            (2) Community solar subscription.--The term ``community 
        solar subscription'' means ownership of a financial share in a 
        community solar project that serves multiple consumers.
            (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        developer or installer of solar equipment.
            (4) Eligible household.--The term ``eligible household'' 
        means a household that includes an eligible individual as 
        defined in section 32(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
        1986 for purposes of the credit under section 32 of that Code.
            (5) Interconnection.--The term ``interconnection'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 111(d)(15) of the Public 
        Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 
        2621(d)(15)).
            (6) Program.--The term ``program'' means the solar 
        financing program established under subsection (b)(1).
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
    (b) Solar Financing Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a solar 
        financing program under which the Secretary shall offer a 
        variety of financing mechanisms, including grants, loans, loan 
        guarantees, and interest buy-downs, to support the deployment 
        of solar projects for eligible households, in accordance with 
        this subsection.
            (2) Grants.--
                    (A) In general.--Under the program, the Secretary 
                shall award grants to eligible entities for deploying 
                residential solar projects or community solar 
                projects--
                            (i) that benefit eligible households; and
                            (ii) in which the tariff, net metering, 
                        bill credit, or other valuation of solar energy 
                        generation, or the sale of that solar 
                        generation by a third party, enables a savings-
                        to-investment ratio of at least 1:1 for an 
                        eligible entity over a period of not more than 
                        10 years.
                    (B) Use of funds.--An eligible entity that receives 
                a grant under the program shall use the grant only to 
                pay for--
                            (i) the cost and installation of solar 
                        equipment in buildings in which the dwelling 
                        units of eligible households are located, 
                        including the cost of materials, labor, and 
                        permitting;
                            (ii) repairs or upgrades to the buildings 
                        described in clause (i) that may be needed to 
                        ensure that solar equipment is installed in a 
                        safe manner; and
                            (iii) the cost of a community solar 
                        subscription.
            (3) Solar housing loans.--
                    (A) In general.--Under the program, the Secretary 
                shall provide loans at zero percent interest--
                            (i) to owners of buildings--
                                    (I) that receive assistance under 
                                section 8(o) of the United States 
                                Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
                                1437f(o)); or
                                    (II) with respect to which a credit 
                                is allowable under section 42 of the 
                                Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for the 
                                taxable year in which the loan is 
                                provided; and
                            (ii) for the purpose of--
                                    (I) installing solar equipment that 
                                benefits the dwelling unit of a tenant;
                                    (II) if necessary for the 
                                installation of solar equipment under 
                                subclause (I), making any upgrade to 
                                the building in which the dwelling unit 
                                is located; and
                                    (III) covering the cost of a 
                                community solar subscription.
                    (B) Savings.--
                            (i) In general.--An owner of a building 
                        receiving a loan under this subsection shall--
                                    (I) reduce the rent that each 
                                tenant described in clause (ii) is 
                                required to pay by an amount that is 
                                proportional to the savings obtained 
                                through any solar upgrades described in 
                                subparagraph (A); and
                                    (II) enter into an affordability 
                                agreement with the Secretary to ensure 
                                that the rent of the tenant remains 
                                affordable for the duration of the 
                                tenancy.
                            (ii) Tenant described.--A tenant referred 
                        to in clause (i) is a low-income tenant 
                        occupying a dwelling unit in the building, 
                        which dwelling unit is affected by a solar 
                        upgrade described in subparagraph (A).
                    (C) Guidance; regulation.--The Secretary shall--
                            (i) publish guidance on what constitutes a 
                        benefit to the dwelling unit of a tenant under 
                        subparagraph (A)(ii)(I); and
                            (ii) promulgate a regulation on the manner 
                        in which a community solar subscription under 
                        subparagraph (A)(ii)(III) shall be managed.
    (c) Community Solar Projects.--The Secretary shall establish a 
program under which the Secretary shall make grants for community solar 
projects--
            (1) to be used for costs associated with interconnection of 
        the community solar project, including application fees, 
        interconnection fees, engineering reviews, and other associated 
        costs incurred during the interconnection process;
            (2) to be used for costs associated with upgrades to a 
        distribution system, if the distribution system requires 
        service or new equipment to accommodate the installation of the 
        community solar project; and
            (3) led by nonprofit organizations to support the 
        implementation of the projects for low-income households.
    (d) Minority and Woman-Owned Businesses.--The Secretary shall, to 
the maximum extent practicable, contract with minority or women-owned 
businesses for the deployment of solar projects that are financed under 
this section.
    (e) Solar Workforce Program.--
            (1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    (A) Eligible participant.--The term ``eligible 
                participant'' means an individual who is a member of an 
                underrepresented group, including--
                            (i) an individual who is a religious, 
                        racial, or ethnic minority;
                            (ii) a woman;
                            (iii) a veteran;
                            (iv) an individual with a disability;
                            (v) an unemployed energy worker;
                            (vi) an energy worker employed by a fossil 
                        fuel industry who is being transitioned away 
                        from that industry because of a State renewable 
                        program or Federal program, as determined by 
                        the Secretary;
                            (vii) a socioeconomically disadvantaged 
                        individual; and
                            (viii) a formerly incarcerated individual.
                    (B) Local workforce development board; state 
                workforce development board.--The terms ``local 
                workforce development board'' and ``State workforce 
                development board'' have the meanings given the terms 
                ``local board'' and ``State board'', respectively, in 
                section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
                Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
                    (C) Program partner.--The term ``program partner'' 
                means--
                            (i) a business;
                            (ii) an employer or industry association;
                            (iii) a labor management organization;
                            (iv) a local workforce development board or 
                        State workforce development board;
                            (v) a 2- or 4-year institution of higher 
                        education that offers an educational program 
                        leading to an associate's or bachelor's degree 
                        in conjunction with a certificate of completion 
                        of an apprenticeship or other training program;
                            (vi) the Armed Forces (including the 
                        National Guard and the Army Reserve);
                            (vii) a nonprofit organization;
                            (viii) a community-based organization; and
                            (ix) an economic development agency.
            (2) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a solar 
        workforce program to assist eligible participants in pursuing 
        careers in the solar energy industry, including as--
                    (A) solar photovoltaic system installers;
                    (B) solar technicians;
                    (C) electrical system inspectors; and
                    (D) other professionals in the solar industry, as 
                determined by the Secretary.
            (3) Courses.--In carrying out the program established under 
        paragraph (2), the Secretary shall create courses or seek to 
        administer existing courses that provide--
                    (A) job training, including through internships and 
                work-based training in accordance with paragraph (4);
                    (B) employment skills training; and
                    (C) comprehensive support services that--
                            (i) enhance the training experience and 
                        promote the professional development of 
                        participants; and
                            (ii) help participants transition into the 
                        workforce.
            (4) Course partners.--To the maximum extent practicable, 
        the Secretary shall partner with program partners to provide 
        internships and work-based training as part of the job training 
        offered under paragraph (3)(A).
            (5) Exam requirement.--As a requirement for completing a 
        course under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall require each 
        participant in the course to earn an applicable industry-
        recognized entry-level certificate or other credential, as 
        determined by the Secretary.
    (f) Guarantee of Loans for Acquisition of Property.--Section 108 of 
the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5308) is 
amended by striking ``or (6)'' and inserting ``(6) the installation of 
solar energy equipment; or (7)''.
    (g) Power Purchase Agreements for Public Housing Agencies.--Section 
6 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437d) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
    ``(u) Power Purchase Agreements.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each contract for contributions for a 
        public housing agency shall provide that the agency may enter 
        into third-party power purchase agreements with third-party 
        providers for a period of not more than 20 years, in addition 
        to a 2-year option period, for the installation of solar energy 
        equipment in public housing projects.
            ``(2) Utilities.--With respect to tenant-paid utilities, 
        any solar rate savings from a power purchase agreement that may 
        result in rebates to a family shall not be used in the 
        calculation of lower utility allowances for the family that 
        results in an increase in the rent paid by the family.''.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section and the 
amendments made by this section $240,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2020 through 2024.

SEC. 5. RULEMAKING RELATING TO UTILITY ALLOWANCES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section, the term ``covered housing'' 
means--
            (1) public housing, as defined in section 3(b) of the 
        United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)); and
            (2) tenant-based assistance provided under section 8(o) of 
        such Act (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)).
    (b) Rulemaking.--The Department of Housing and Urban Development 
shall promulgate regulations to provide that, with respect to covered 
housing, any solar rate savings for a dwelling unit that is associated 
with this Act or an amendment made by this Act shall not be used in the 
calculation of lower utility allowances for a family that results in an 
increase in the rent paid by the family.
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