1.This Act may be cited as the
Grants for Renewable Energy Education
for the Nation Act
or the GREEN Act
.
2.Congress finds that—
(1)career and
technical education provides education pathways that help students explore
interests and careers that support the United States economy;
(2)the United States
needs to develop renewable energy options that conserve energy and provide
energy efficiency and new and yet unrecognized fields are developing as a
result of the attention and focus on renewable energy, and new workers will be
needed for professions in these fields;
(3)the Conference of Mayors reports that
millions of U.S. workers across a wide range of familiar occupations, States,
and income and skill levels will all benefit from the project of defeating
global warming and transforming the United States into a green economy;
(4)a
report commissioned by the American Solar Energy Society attributed 8.5 million
jobs in 2006 to renewable energy or energy efficient industries and the Apollo
Alliance predicts that the Nation could generate 3 million to 5 million more
green jobs over the next 10 years;
(5)more than 40 percent of the fastest growing
occupations will require an associate’s degree, a postsecondary vocational
certificate, or extensive job training, according to a Bureau of Labor
Statistics Report;
(6)more than 80
percent of respondents in the National Association of Manufacturers 2005 skills
gap report indicated that they are experiencing a shortage of qualified workers
overall with 13 percent reporting severe shortages and 68 percent indicating
moderate shortages;
(7)career and
technical education graduates are more likely to be in the labor force and earn
more than graduates who have a high school degree; and
(8)career and
technical education programs need support in acquiring the latest technology
and developing programs that prepare students for the new and emerging
renewable energy field.
3.Renewable energy
curriculum development grants
(a)The
Secretary of Education is authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis,
to eligible partnerships to develop programs of study (containing the
information described in section 122(c)(1)(A) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342)), that are focused on emerging
careers and jobs in the renewable energy sector.
(b)For purposes of this section, an eligible
partnership shall include—
(1)at
least 1 local education agency eligible for funding under section 131 of the
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2351) or
an area career and technical education school or education service agency
described in such section;
(2)at least 1
postsecondary institution eligible for funding under section 132 of such Act
(20 U.S.C. 2352); and
(3)representatives of
the community including business, labor organizations, and industry that has
experience in the renewable energy field.
(c)An
eligible partnership seeking a grant under this section shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary
may require. Applications shall include—
(1)a
description of the eligible partners and partnership, the roles and
responsibilities of each partner, and a demonstration of each partner’s
capacity to support the program;
(2)a
description of the career area or areas within the field of renewable energy to
be developed, the reason for the choice, and evidence of the labor market need
to prepare students in that area;
(3)a
description of the new or existing program of study and both secondary and
postsecondary components;
(4)a
description of the students to be served by the new program of study;
(5)a
description of how the program of study funded by the grant will be replicable
and disseminated to schools outside of the partnership, including urban and
rural areas;
(6)a
description of applied learning that will be incorporated into the program of
study and how it will incorporate or reinforce academic learning;
(7)a
description of how the program of study will be delivered;
(8)a
description of how the program will provide accessibility to students,
especially economically disadvantaged, low performing and urban and rural
students; and
(9)a
description of how the program will address placement of students in
non-traditional fields as described in section 3(20) of the Carl D. Perkins
Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302(20)).
(d)The
Secretary shall give priority to applications that—
(1)use online
learning or other innovative means to deliver the program of study to students,
educators, and instructors outside of the partnership; and
(2)focus on low performing students and
special populations as defined in section 3(29) of the Carl D. Perkins Career
and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302(29)).
(e)The Secretary shall convene a peer review process to
review applications for grants under this section and to make recommendations
regarding the selection of grantees. Members of the peer review committee shall
include—
(1)educators who have
experience implementing renewable energy curriculums; and
(2)business and
industry experts who work and build in renewable energy fields.
(f)Grants awarded under this section shall be used for the
development, implementation, and dissemination of programs of study (as
described in section 122(c)(1)(A) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 2342(c)(1)(A))) in career areas related to energy
sustainability.
4.Renewable energy
facilities grants
(a)The
Secretary of Education is authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis,
to eligible entities to promote development of career and technical education
facilities that are energy efficient and promote the use of renewable energy
practices.
(b)For purposes of this section, eligible entities
include—
(1)a
local education agency eligible for funding under section 131 of the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2351) or an area
career and technical education school or education service agency described
under that section; or
(2)a
postsecondary institution eligible for funding under section 132 of such Act
(20 U.S.C. 2352).
(c)An
eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application
to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may require.
(d)The Secretary shall convene a peer review process to
review applications for grants under this section and to make recommendations
regarding the selection of grantees. Members of the peer review committee shall
include—
(1)career and
technical education administrators who have experience with energy-efficient
facilities and equipment; and
(2)business and
industry experts who build and work in renewable energy facilities.
(e)Grants awarded under this section shall be used for—
(1)performing an
evaluation of the sustainability aspects of current facilities, unless such an
evaluation has been conducted prior to receiving a grant under this
section;
(2)convening
stakeholders, including organizations devoted to the promotion and support of
renewable energy activities, to develop a plan to address needs identified in
such an evaluation, unless such a plan has already been developed prior to
receiving a grant under this section;
(3)initiating
activities related to the construction, operation, and improvement of
facilities that promote the use of renewable energy practices;
(4)purchasing
energy-efficient machinery, technology, or other physical equipment used as an
educational tool to deliver career and technical education courses;
(5)measuring the
effectiveness of the new or improved facilities and infrastructure, such as
complying with existing renewable energy standards; and
(6)communicating the
lessons and practices learned from the building upgrades to other
institutions.
5.Authorization of
AppropriationsThere is
authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 to the Secretary of Education to
carry out the grant program established under this Act.