[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4447 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>





                                                 Union Calendar No. 404
116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4447

                      [Report No. 116-504, Part I]

   To establish an energy storage and microgrid grant and technical 
                          assistance program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 20, 2019

  Mr. O'Halleran (for himself, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Lamb, and Mr. Norman) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
   Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, 
 Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

                           September 15, 2020

   Additional sponsors: Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Brooks of Indiana, Mr. 
    Welch, Mr. Cole, Ms. Spanberger, and Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire

                           September 15, 2020

  Reported from the Committee on Energy and Commerce with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]


                           September 15, 2020

 Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged; committed to 
the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered 
                             to be printed
    [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on 
                          September 20, 2019]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish an energy storage and microgrid grant and technical 
                          assistance program.


 


    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 ``Expanding Access to Sustainable 
Energy Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a rural electric cooperative; or
                    (B) a nonprofit organization working with at least 
                6 rural electric cooperatives.
            (2) Energy storage.--The term ``energy storage'' means the 
        use of equipment or facilities relating to the electric grid 
        that are capable of absorbing and converting energy, as 
        applicable, storing the energy for a period of time, and 
        dispatching the energy, that--
                    (A) use mechanical, electrochemical, biochemical, 
                or thermal processes, to convert and store energy that 
                was generated at an earlier time for use at a later 
                time;
                    (B) use mechanical, electrochemical, biochemical, 
                or thermal processes to convert and store energy 
                generated from mechanical processes that would 
                otherwise be wasted for delivery at a later time; or
                    (C) convert and store energy in an electric, 
                thermal, or gaseous state for direct use for heating or 
                cooling at a later time in a manner that avoids the 
                need to use electricity or other fuel sources at that 
                later time, as is offered by grid-enabled water 
                heaters.
            (3) Island.--The term ``island mode'' means a mode in which 
        a distributed generator or energy storage device continues to 
        power a location in the absence of electric power from the 
        primary source.
            (4) Microgrid.--The term ``microgrid'' means an 
        interconnected system of loads and distributed energy 
        resources, including generators and energy storage devices, 
        within clearly defined electrical boundaries that--
                    (A) acts as a single controllable entity with 
                respect to the electric grid; and
                    (B) can connect to, and disconnect from, the 
                electric grid to operate in both grid-connected mode 
                and island mode.
            (5) Renewable energy source.--The term ``renewable energy 
        source'' has the meaning given the term in section 609(a) of 
        the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 
        918c(a)).
            (6) Rural electric cooperative.--The term ``rural electric 
        cooperative'' means an electric cooperative (as defined in 
        section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796)) that sells 
        electric energy to persons in rural areas.
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.

SEC. 3. ENERGY STORAGE AND MICROGRID ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program under 
which the Secretary shall--
            (1) provide grants to eligible entities under subsection 
        (c);
            (2) provide technical assistance to eligible entities under 
        subsection (d); and
            (3) disseminate information to eligible entities on--
                    (A) the activities described in subsections (c)(1) 
                and (d); and
                    (B) potential and existing energy storage and 
                microgrid projects.
    (b) Cooperative Agreement.--The Secretary may enter into a 
cooperative agreement with an eligible entity to carry out subsection 
(a).
    (c) Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
        eligible entities for identifying, evaluating, designing, and 
        demonstrating energy storage and microgrid projects that 
        utilize energy from renewable energy sources.
            (2) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary 
        an application at such time, in such manner, and containing 
        such information as the Secretary may require.
            (3) Use of grant.--An eligible entity that receives a grant 
        under paragraph (1)--
                    (A) shall use the grant--
                            (i) to conduct feasibility studies to 
                        assess the potential for implementation or 
                        improvement of energy storage or microgrid 
                        projects;
                            (ii) to analyze and implement strategies to 
                        overcome barriers to energy storage or 
                        microgrid project implementation, including 
                        financial, contracting, siting, and permitting 
                        barriers;
                            (iii) to conduct detailed engineering of 
                        energy storage or microgrid projects;
                            (iv) to perform a cost-benefit analysis 
                        with respect to an energy storage or microgrid 
                        project;
                            (v) to plan for both the short- and long-
                        term inclusion of energy storage or microgrid 
                        projects into the future development plans of 
                        the eligible entity; or
                            (vi) to purchase and install necessary 
                        equipment, materials, and supplies for 
                        demonstration of emerging technologies; and
                    (B) may use the grant to obtain technical 
                assistance from experts in carrying out the activities 
                described in subparagraph (A).
            (4) Condition.--As a condition of receiving a grant under 
        paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall--
                    (A) implement a public awareness campaign, in 
                coordination with the Secretary, about the project 
                implemented under the grant in the community in which 
                the eligible entity is located;
                    (B) submit to the Secretary, and make available to 
                the public, a report that describes--
                            (i) any energy cost savings and 
                        environmental benefits achieved under the 
                        project; and
                            (ii) the results of the project, including 
                        quantitative assessments to the extent 
                        practicable, associated with each activity 
                        described in paragraph (3)(A); and
                    (C) create and disseminate tools and resources that 
                will benefit other rural electric cooperatives, which 
                may include cost calculators, guidebooks, handbooks, 
                templates, and training courses.
            (5) Cost-share.--Activities under this subsection shall be 
        subject to the cost-sharing requirements of section 988 of the 
        Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352).
    (d) Technical Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--In carrying out the program established 
        under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide eligible 
        entities with technical assistance relating to--
                    (A) identifying opportunities for energy storage 
                and microgrid projects;
                    (B) understanding the technical and economic 
                characteristics of energy storage or microgrid 
                projects;
                    (C) understanding financing alternatives;
                    (D) permitting and siting issues;
                    (E) obtaining case studies of similar and 
                successful energy storage or microgrid projects;
                    (F) reviewing and obtaining computer software for 
                assessment, design, and operation and maintenance of 
                energy storage or microgrid systems; and
                    (G) understanding and utilizing the reliability and 
                resiliency benefits of energy storage and microgrid 
                projects.
            (2) External contracts.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary may enter into contracts with third-party experts, 
        including engineering, finance, and insurance experts, to 
        provide technical assistance to eligible entities relating to 
        the activities described in such paragraph, or other relevant 
        activities, as determined by the Secretary.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this Act $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
    (b) Administrative Costs.--Not more than 5 percent of the amount 
appropriated under subsection (a) for each fiscal year shall be used 
for administrative expenses.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 404

116th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 4447

                      [Report No. 116-504, Part I]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

   To establish an energy storage and microgrid grant and technical 
                          assistance program.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           September 15, 2020

  Reported from the Committee on Energy and Commerce with an amendment

                           September 15, 2020

 Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged; committed to 
the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered 
                             to be printed