118 HR 7424 IH: Renewable Roadsides Act U.S. House of Representatives 2024-02-20 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I118th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 7424IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 20, 2024Mr. Schiff (for himself, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. Norton, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Carson, Mr. Peters, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Ruiz, Ms. Salinas, Ms. Lee of California, and Mr. Trone) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and TechnologyA BILLTo direct the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Energy to jointly conduct a study on the development of facilities for solar energy generation, solar energy storage, and solar energy transmission or distribution on available Federal land adjacent to the National Highway System, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Renewable Roadsides Act.

2.

Study on developing available Federal land adjacent to the National Highway System for solar energy generation, solar energy storage, and solar energy transmission or distribution facilities

(a)

In general

Not later than December 31, 2025, the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Energy shall jointly conduct a study on the development of facilities for solar energy generation, solar energy storage, and solar energy transmission or distribution on available Federal land adjacent to the National Highway System. (b)

Scope of study

When conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Energy shall—(1)evaluate the suitability of available Federal land adjacent to the National Highway System for the development of facilities for solar energy generation, solar energy storage, and solar energy transmission or distribution; and(2)identify the issues and policies impeding the development of such facilities on available Federal land adjacent to the National Highway System, including existing laws, safety concerns, land suitability, development feasability, and competition with other priorities that the Federal Government has identified for such Federal land.(c)

Report

Not later than December 31, 2026, the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Energy shall jointly issue to Congress a report, which shall include—(1)the results of the study required under subsection (a);(2)recommendations on how to facilitate the development of facilities for solar energy generation, solar energy storage, and solar energy transmission or distribution on available Federal land adjacent to the National Highway System;(3)the identification of Federal requirements for developing such facilities on available Federal land adjacent to the National Highway System, including any safety or environmental issues involved in developing such facilities and the steps required to mitigate such issues; and(4)recommendations for a process for entities to apply to the Department of Transportation and the Department of Energy for a lease, an easement, or a joint-use agreement to build and operate such facilities on available Federal land adjacent to the National Highway System for a term that is not shorter than the useful life of such facilities.(d)

National Highway System defined

In this section, the term National Highway System means the Federal-aid highway system described in section 103(b) of title 23, United States Code.