Wildfire Resilient Power Grid Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4931
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2020-12-01
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Atmospheric science and weather

Congressional oversight

Electric power generation and transmission

Fires

Forests, forestry, trees

Public utilities and utility rates

Roads and highways
Latest action: action_date: 2020-12-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-12-01
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Wildfire Resilient Power Grid Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish within its Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability a grant program that provides incentives for electric utilities to reduce the risk of power lines causing a wildfire.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4931 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 1, 2020 Mr. Wyden (for himself and Mr. Merkley ) 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 a grant program to reduce the risk of wildfires caused by power lines, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wildfire Resilient Power Grid Act of 2020 . 2. Matching grant program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means an electric utility, including— (A) a publicly owned electric utility; (B) a municipal electric utility; (C) a cooperatively owned electric utility; (D) an investor-owned electric utility; and (E) a Federal agency or federally owned corporation that is an electric utility (as defined in section 3 of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 796 )). (2) Power line The term power line includes a transmission line or a distribution line, as applicable. (3) Program The term program means the program established under subsection (b). (4) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy. (b) Establishment Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish within the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability a program under which the Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities to carry out activities that— (1) reduce the risk of any power lines owned or operated by the eligible entity causing a wildfire; (2) are designed to enhance public safety; and (3) are supplemental to the existing wildfire risk mitigation efforts of the eligible entity planned for any given year. (c) Application (1) In general An eligible entity desiring a grant under the program shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Requirement As a condition of receiving a grant under the program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary as part of the application of the eligible entity under paragraph (1) a wildfire mitigation plan. (d) Use of grant funds An eligible entity may use a grant provided under the program— (1) for the undergrounding of new and existing power lines and circuits; (2) to harden overhead power lines with fire resistant equipment, such as steel poles and covered wires; (3) to install underground circuits; (4) to install fast-tripping protection systems; (5) to construct and operate 1 or more weather monitoring stations; (6) to install fault location equipment; (7) for the relocation of power lines to roadways; (8) to carry out vegetation or fuels management activities in accordance with Federal, State, and local laws (including regulations); (9) for installation of cameras, sensors, or other technology that provides real-time information about conditions; and (10) for other, related electric grid upgrades to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition. (e) Priority In making grants under the program, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that, in the determination of the Secretary, will generate the greatest community benefit in reducing the risk of wildfire ignition from power lines or equipment relative to the cost of the project. (f) Set aside In making grants under the program, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 20 percent of the amounts made available to eligible entities under the program are made available to eligible entities that sell not more than 4,000,000 megawatt hours of electricity per year. (g) Matching requirement (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), as a condition of receiving a grant under the program, an eligible entity shall provide matching funds in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution in an amount equal to not less than 100 percent of the amounts made available under the grant. (2) Exception for small utilities With respect to an eligible entity that sells not more than 4,000,000 megawatt hours of electricity per year, as a condition of receiving a grant under the program, the eligible entity shall provide matching funds in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution in an amount equal to not less than 1/3 of the amounts made available under the grant. (3) Existing efforts On approval by the Secretary, amounts expended by an eligible entity on wildfire risk mitigation efforts during the 1-year period ending on the date on which a grant is received under the program shall count toward the matching requirement described in paragraph (1) or (2), as applicable. (h) Biennial report Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report describing the quantity by which the risk of wildfires caused by power lines has been reduced under the program during the year covered by the report. (i) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2031.