Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Remote communities, island communities, and Tribal communities are commonly characterized by the unique challenges arising from isolation and the resultant difficulties in achieving economies of scale in the delivery of critical goods and services. (2)With respect to energy, such challenges include high energy costs, limited and non-resilient energy infrastructure, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters. (3)Self-sufficient renewable energy solutions are required to ensure energy security for these communities. (4)These communities require specialized assistance, which they have difficulty procuring on their own, in acquiring and building necessary infrastructure, such as energy storage, solar energy facilities, hydropower plants, distributed energy resources, microgrids, and necessary transportation. (5)Such specialized assistance should be provided in partnership with remote communities, island communities, and Tribal communities because their unique expertise and deep knowledge of local challenges and needs are necessary for the success of resulting solutions.

Energy Transitions Initiative grant

(a)

Establishment

The Secretary of Energy shall establish an initiative to provide grants to eligible entities to fund eligible projects for the development of resilient energy systems in remote communities, island communities, and Tribal communities. (b)

Terms

(1)

Grants

In carrying out the initiative, the Secretary may make a grant of not more than $5,000,000 to an eligible entity for an eligible project. (2)

Cost-share

The Secretary may not make a grant under this section in an amount that is more than 90 percent of the cost of an eligible project. (c)

Technical assistance

Upon the request of a grantee, the Secretary shall provide technical assistance to such grantee for a period of not less than 1 year and not more than 2 years through the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Program. (d)

GAO audit

Not later than 1 year after the establishment of the initiative described in this section, and annually thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall— (1)conduct an audit of the initiative established under this section to ensure proper use of funds and compliance with applicable regulations; and (2)submit a report that includes the results of such audit and recommendations for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the initiative to— (A)the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; (B)the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; (C)the Committee on Energy and Public Works of the Senate; and (D)the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. (e)

Authorization of Appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $31,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this section. (f)

Definitions

For purposes of this section: (1)

Alaska Native Corporation

The term Alaska Native Corporation has the meaning given the term Native Corporation in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (42 U.S.C. 1602). (2)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means— (A)a State that includes a remote community, an island community, or a Tribal community; (B)a unit of local government serving or that includes a remote community or an island community; (C)a Tribal community; or (D)a community organization that serves a remote community, an island community, or a Tribal community. (3)

Eligible project

The term eligible project means any of the following projects: (A)A project to implement energy efficiency measures in buildings. (B)A project for a resilient energy system that is a project to develop— (i)a hydropower, solar power, wind energy, geothermal energy, tidal power, or wave energy system; (ii)a microgrid; or (iii)infrastructure necessary for the transmission and distribution of electricity. (4)

Federally recognized Tribe

The term federally recognized tribe has the meaning given the term in section 102(2) of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5130(2)). (5)

Island community

The term island community means a group of individuals living on an area of land isolated from the mainland by oceans or lakes, that is not connected to a larger regional grid network, and experiences resilience challenges, including energy disruptions or threats to infrastructure from natural disasters. (6)

Native Hawaiian Organization

The term Native Hawaiian Organization means an organization listed by the Department of the Interior in the Native Hawaiian Organization Notification List maintained by the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations. (7)

Remote community

The term remote community means a group of individuals living in an area isolated from a larger regional grid network, with limited access to centralized energy sources due to environmental or geographical impediments. (8)

Resilient energy system

The term resilient energy system means a facility or equipment that— (A)can generate and deliver energy; and (B)can withstand or quickly recover from an energy disruption. (9)

State

The term State means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. (10)

Tribal community

The term Tribal community means a federally recognized Tribe, an Alaska Native Corporation, or a Native Hawaiian Organization.