Green Retrofits Act

Bill: 117-s-2361
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2021-07-15
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Building construction

Housing and community development funding

Low- and moderate-income housing

Public utilities and utility rates

Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Latest action: action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-07-15
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Green Retrofits Act</b></p> <p>This bill reauthorizes a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) water and energy conservation demonstration program through FY2027. Prior to its FY2019 expiration, the program allowed HUD to execute agreements with specified entities to reduce utility costs through improvements at multifamily subsidized housing projects.</p> <p>The reauthorization makes a number of changes to the original program, including increasing the cap on eligible residential units from 20,000 to 35,000 and extending the cap on agreement terms from 12 to 15 years.</p> <p>The bill also creates a green retrofit program that allows HUD to provide grants or loans to owners of multifamily subsidized housing projects. The grants or loans must be used to perform in-home health and green retrofits to the property.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2361 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 15, 2021 Mr. Reed (for himself and Ms. Collins ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs A BILL To reauthorize the budget-neutral demonstration program for energy and water conservation at multifamily residential units, to establish a green retrofit program, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Green Retrofits Act . 2. Reauthorization of budget-neutral demonstration program Section 81001 of the FAST Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12712 note; Public Law 114–94 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— (A) by striking 2016 through 2019 and inserting 2022 through 2027 ; (B) by striking costs and inserting burdens and greenhouse gas emissions ; and (C) by striking 20,000 and inserting 35,000 ; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking an energy or water cost savings is and inserting energy or water costs savings are ; (ii) in subparagraph (C)(iv), by striking determination of savings to the Secretary and inserting validation of subsidy amounts from the Department of Housing and Urban Development required to support actual utility costs ; and (iii) by striking the undesignated matter following subparagraph (C); and (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), and (E) as subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), and (G), respectively; (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking effect and during and inserting “effect; (B) the period during ; (iii) in subparagraph (B), as so designated, by striking 12 years and inserting 15 years ; (iv) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated, by inserting property or before properties ; (v) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated, by striking and at the end; and (vi) by inserting after subparagraph (E), as so redesignated, the following: (F) a requirement that the costs associated with third-party verification under paragraph (1)(C) shall be covered by the entity; and ; (3) in subsection (c)(2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking annually thereafter and inserting biennially thereafter until the date on which the final performance-based agreement under this section ends ; and (4) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following: (d) Funding (1) In general For each fiscal year during which an agreement under this section is in effect, the Secretary may make payments under this section from funds appropriated to the Secretary for the renewal of contracts under the program established under subsection (a). (2) Evaluation and reports The Secretary may use amounts appropriated to carry out this section to contract for services to perform the program evaluations and produce the reports required under subsection (c). (3) Approval of utility savings Obligations of amounts available for payments pursuant to this subsection shall not arise until the Secretary has approved the documented utility savings submitted by the entity and verified by the third party for that annual increment and determined that actual savings did occur and payments may be made. . 3. Green retrofit program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered property The term covered property means a multifamily residential property receiving project-based assistance under— (A) section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701q ); (B) section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8013 ); or (C) section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ). (2) Eligible entity the term eligible entity means the owner of a covered property. (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. (b) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a program to provide grants or loans to eligible entities for the purpose of performing in-home health and green retrofits to covered properties. (c) Purpose The purpose of the program established under subsection (b) shall be to, with respect to a covered property— (1) reduce the energy demand, water consumption, or greenhouse gas emissions of the covered property; (2) increase the adoption of renewable energy technologies, including energy storage and demand response capable technology, and energy efficiency measures in the covered property; (3) lower the operating costs of the covered property; (4) improve the quality of life of residents of the covered property; (5) reduce risks to the health and safety of residents of the covered property; and (6) reduce the overall impact on the environment of the covered property. (d) Equitable distribution In awarding grants or loans under this section, the Secretary shall ensure the equitable geographic distribution of awards. (e) Regulations (1) In general The Secretary may promulgate regulations to carry out the program established under subsection (b). (2) Consultation In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the maximum extent practicable.