[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3535 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3535

To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a pilot program to award 
   grants to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of retrofitting 
        nonprofit buildings with energy-efficiency improvements.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 12, 2012

  Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Hoeven) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a pilot program to award 
   grants to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of retrofitting 
        nonprofit buildings with energy-efficiency improvements.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act''.

SEC. 2. ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFIT PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Applicant.--The term ``applicant'' means a nonprofit 
        organization that applies for a grant under this section.
            (2) Energy-efficiency improvement.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``energy-efficiency 
                improvement'' means an installed measure (including a 
                product, equipment, system, service, or practice) that 
                results in a reduction in demand by a nonprofit 
                organization for energy or fuel supplied from outside 
                the nonprofit building.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``energy-efficiency 
                improvement'' includes an installed measure described 
                in subparagraph (A) involving--
                            (i) repairing, replacing, or installing--
                                    (I) a roof, electrical wiring, 
                                plumbing, sewage, or lighting system, 
                                or component of a roof, electrical 
                                wiring, or system;
                                    (II) a window;
                                    (III) a door, including a security 
                                door; or
                                    (IV) a heating, ventilation, or air 
                                conditioning system or component of the 
                                system (including insulation);
                            (ii) a renewable energy generation or 
                        heating system, including a solar, 
                        photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, or biomass 
                        (including wood pellet) system or component of 
                        the system; and
                            (iii) any other measure taken to modernize, 
                        renovate, or repair a nonprofit building to 
                        make the nonprofit building more energy 
                        efficient.
            (3) Nonprofit building.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``nonprofit building'' 
                means a building operated and owned by a nonprofit 
                organization.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``nonprofit building'' 
                includes a building described in subparagraph (A) that 
                is--
                            (i) a hospital;
                            (ii) a youth center;
                            (iii) a school;
                            (iv) a social-welfare program facility;
                            (v) a house of worship; and
                            (vi) any other nonresidential and 
                        noncommercial structure.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
    (b) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a pilot 
program to award grants for the purpose of retrofitting nonprofit 
buildings with energy-efficiency improvements.
    (c) Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may award grants under the 
        program established under subsection (b).
            (2) Application.--The Secretary may award a grant under 
        this section if an applicant submits to the Secretary an 
        application at such time, in such form, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may prescribe.
            (3) Criteria for grant.--In determining whether to award a 
        grant under this section, the Secretary shall apply 
        performance-based criteria, which shall give priority to 
        applications based on--
                    (A) the cost-effectiveness of the energy-efficiency 
                improvement; and
                    (B) an effective plan for evaluation, measurement, 
                and verification of energy savings.
            (4) Limitation on individual grant amount.--Each grant 
        awarded under this section shall not exceed--
                    (A) an amount equal to 50 percent of the energy-
                efficiency improvement; and
                    (B) $200,000.
            (5) Cost sharing.--
                    (A) In general.--A grant awarded under this section 
                shall be subject to a minimum non-Federal cost-sharing 
                requirement of 50 percent.
                    (B) In-kind contributions.--The non-Federal share 
                may be provided in the form of in-kind contributions of 
                materials or services.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2013 through 2016, to remain available until expended.

SEC. 3. OFFSET.

    Section 399A(i) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 
U.S.C. 6371h-1(i)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2013'' and inserting 
        ``2012 and $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 through 
        2016''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2013'' and inserting 
        ``2016''.
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