Virgin Islands Energy Crisis Relief Act

Bill: 113-hr-92
Sponsor: full_name: Del. Christensen, Donna M. [D-VI-At Large]
Introduced: 2013-01-03
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Appropriations

Electric power generation and transmission

Energy assistance for the poor and aged

Oil and gas

Public utilities and utility rates

U.S. territories and protectorates

Virgin Islands
Latest action: action_date: 2013-04-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-01-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Virgin Islands Energy Crisis Relief Act - Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), through the Rural Utilities Service, to make a grant to the Water and Power Authority of the U.S. Virgin Islands for energy generation, transmission, and distribution in rural communities with extremely high energy costs. Provides related funding through FY2015.</p> <p>Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make grants to the Authority to convert base power production in the Virgin Islands from fuel oil to liquefied natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas. Authorizes appropriations through FY2017.</p> <p>Increases, through FY2018, the number of Virgin Islands households eligible for low-income energy assistance.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 92 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 3, 2013 Mrs. Christensen introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture , and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce , Transportation and Infrastructure , Financial Services , and Education and the Workforce , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide energy crisis relief to residents of the Virgin Islands.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Virgin Islands Energy Crisis Relief Act . 2. High energy costs assistance Section 19 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 918a ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) High Energy Cost Grant to the Water and Power Authority of the United States Virgin Islands (1) In general The Secretary, acting through the Rural Utilities Service, shall make a grant in an amount equal to $100,000,000 to the Water and Power Authority of the United States Virgin Islands under subection (a)(1) if that entity applies for, and is eligible for, such a grant. (2) Appropriation (A) In general Out of any funds in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for fiscal year 2013 such sums as may be necessary for the grant provided for in paragraph (1), in addition to any other appropriated funds that may be used for the grant. (B) Availability Amounts made available under subparagraph (A) shall remain available through fiscal year 2015. (d) Territories included In this section, the term State includes Territory. . 3. Economic adjustment assistance (a) In general The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to make grants under section 209 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3199 ) to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority for programs and activities to convert base power production in the Virgin Islands from fuel oil to liquefied natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas. (b) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section a total of $15,000,000 for fiscal years 2013 through 2017. 4. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program With respect to fiscal years 2013 through 2018, the percentage described in section 2605(b)(2)(B)(i) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)(B)(i)) shall be 300 percent when applied to households located in the Virgin Islands.