1.This Act may be cited as the
Grants for Renewable Energy Education
for the Nation Act
or the GREEN Act
.
2.Clean 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 fields of clean
energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate change mitigation, and
climate change adaptation. The Secretary of Education shall consult with the
Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Energy prior to the issuance of a
solicitation for grant applications.
(b)For purposes of this section, an eligible
partnership shall include—
(1)at least 1 local
educational 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 have
experience in fields as described in subsection (a).
(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 fields as described in
subsection (a) 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;
(9)a
description of how the program will address placement of students in
nontraditional 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)); and
(10)a description of
how the applicant proposes to consult or has consulted with a labor
organization, labor management partnership, apprenticeship program, or joint
apprenticeship and training program that provides education and training in the
field of study for which the applicant proposes to develop a curriculum.
(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 curricula with comparable purposes; and
(2)business and
industry experts in fields as described in subsection (a).
(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 clean
energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate change mitigation, and
climate change adaptation.
3.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.
4.Authorization of
AppropriationsThere is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Education $100,000,000 to
carry out the grant program established under this Act.