Title: Investing in Energy Regions Act
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Investing in Energy Regions Act
This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a program to demonstrate the technical and economic viability of carrying out clean energy projects on current and former mine land. Under the program, DOE must select no more than five projects that will be carried out in geographically diverse regions. At least two of the projects must be solar projects.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5368 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5368

To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to demonstrate 
   the technical and economic viability of carrying out clean energy 
   projects on current and former mine land, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 24, 2021

   Mr. Lamb introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
              Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to demonstrate 
   the technical and economic viability of carrying out clean energy 
   projects on current and former mine land, 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 ``Investing in Energy Regions Act''.

SEC. 2. CLEAN ENERGY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM ON CURRENT AND FORMER MINE 
              LAND.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Clean energy project.--The term ``clean energy 
        project'' means a project that demonstrates 1 or more of the 
        following technologies:
                    (A) Solar.
                    (B) Micro-grids.
                    (C) Geothermal.
                    (D) Direct air capture.
                    (E) Fossil-fueled electricity generation with 
                carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration.
                    (F) Energy storage, including pumped storage 
                hydropower and compressed air storage.
                    (G) Advanced nuclear technologies.
                    (H) Wind energy.
            (2) Economically distressed area.--The term ``economically 
        distressed area'' means an area described in section 301(a) of 
        the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 
        U.S.C. 3161(a)).
            (3) Mine land.--The term ``mine land'' means--
                    (A) land subject to titles IV and V of the Surface 
                Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 
                1231 et seq.; 30 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.); and
                    (B) land that has been claimed or patented subject 
                to sections 2319 through 2344 of the Revised Statutes 
                (commonly known as the ``Mining Law of 1872'') (30 
                U.S.C. 22 et seq.).
            (4) Program.--The term ``program'' means the demonstration 
        program established under subsection (b).
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
    (b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program to 
demonstrate the technical and economic viability of carrying out clean 
energy projects on current and former mine land.
    (c) Selection of Demonstration Projects.--
            (1) In general.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary 
        shall select not more than 5 clean energy projects, to be 
        carried out in geographically diverse regions, at least two of 
        which shall be solar projects.
            (2) Eligibility.--To be eligible to be selected for 
        participation in the program under paragraph (1), a clean 
        energy project shall demonstrate, as determined by the 
        Secretary, a technology on a current or former mine land site 
        with a reasonable expectation of commercial viability.
            (3) Priority.--In selecting clean energy projects for 
        participation in the program under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
        shall prioritize clean energy projects that will--
                    (A) be carried out in a location where the greatest 
                number of jobs can be created from the successful 
                demonstration of the clean energy project;
                    (B) provide the greatest net impact in avoiding or 
                reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
                    (C) provide the greatest domestic job creation 
                (both directly and indirectly) during the 
                implementation of the clean energy project;
                    (D) provide the greatest job creation and economic 
                development in the vicinity of the clean energy 
                project, particularly--
                            (i) in economically distressed areas; and
                            (ii) with respect to dislocated workers who 
                        were previously employed in manufacturing, coal 
                        power plants, or coal mining;
                    (E) have the greatest potential for technological 
                innovation and commercial deployment;
                    (F) have the lowest levelized cost of generated or 
                stored energy;
                    (G) have the lowest rate of greenhouse gas 
                emissions per unit of electricity generated or stored; 
                and
                    (H) have the shortest project time from permitting 
                to completion.
            (4) Project selection.--The Secretary shall solicit 
        proposals for clean energy projects and select clean energy 
        project finalists in consultation with the Secretary of the 
        Interior, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
        Agency, and the Secretary of Labor.
            (5) Compatibility with existing operations.--Prior to 
        selecting a clean energy project for participation in the 
        program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with, 
        as applicable, mining claimholders or operators or the relevant 
        Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Abandoned 
        Mine Land program office to confirm--
                    (A) that the proposed project is compatible with 
                any current mining, exploration, or reclamation 
                activities; and
                    (B) the valid existing rights of any mining 
                claimholders or operators.
    (d) Prevailing Wages.--To be eligible to be selected for 
participation in the program under subsection (c)(1), a project 
applicant for a clean energy project shall submit to the Secretary a 
written assurance that all laborers and mechanics employed by any 
contractor or subcontractor in the performance of work funded directly, 
or assisted in whole or in part, by the Federal Government pursuant to 
this Act shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on 
work of a similar character in the locality, as determined by the 
Secretary of Labor under subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, 
United States Code (commonly referred to as the Davis-Bacon Act). With 
respect to the labor standards in this subsection, the Secretary of 
Labor shall have the authority and functions set forth in 
Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) 
and section 3145 of title 40, United States Code.
    (e) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with the Director of 
the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, acting through 
the Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization, to determine whether 
it is necessary to promulgate regulations or issue guidance in order to 
prioritize and expedite the siting of clean energy projects on current 
and former mine land sites.
    (f) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide technical 
assistance to project applicants selected for participation in the 
program under subsection (c) to assess the needed interconnection, 
transmission, and other grid components and permitting and siting 
necessary to interconnect, on current and former mine land where the 
project will be sited, any generation or storage with the electric 
grid.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $500,000,000 
for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.
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