Energy-Ready Vets Program

Title XI of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16411 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

1107.

Energy-Ready Vets Program

(a)

Purpose

The purpose of this section is to ensure that veterans have the credentials and training necessary to secure careers in the energy industry.(b)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Active military, naval, or air service

The term active military, naval, or air service has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.(2)

Eligible participant

The term eligible participant means a veteran who—(A)was discharged or released from service in the active military, naval, or air service during the most recent 1-year period; or(B)(i)was discharged or released from service in the active military, naval, or air service during the 2-year period immediately preceding the most recent 1-year period; and(ii)receives the approval of the Secretary to participate in the program.(3)

Program

The term program means the Energy-Ready Vets Program established under subsection (c)(1).(4)

Uniformed services

The term uniformed services has the meaning given such term in section 10(a) of title 10, United States Code.(5)

Veteran

The term veteran has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.(c)

Establishment; implementation

(1)

Establishment

The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the Energy-Ready Vets Program, to prepare eligible participants for careers in the energy industry.(2)

Implementation

The Secretary shall ensure that the program is implemented by an administrator, to be appointed by the Secretary from among individuals with experience relating to military service.(d)

Administration of program

(1)

In general

The Secretary, in partnership with the Secretary of Defense, shall carry out the program through the SkillBridge program of the Department of Defense, under which the Secretary shall provide standardized training courses, based, to the maximum extent practicable, on existing industry-recognized certification and training programs, to prepare eligible participants in the program for careers in the energy industry, including—(A)in the solar energy industry, careers—(i)as solar photovoltaic system installers;(ii)as solar technicians;(iii)as system inspectors; and(iv)in other areas relating to the solar energy industry;(B)in the wind energy industry, careers—(i)in wind energy operations;(ii)in wind energy development;(iii)in wind energy manufacturing;(iv)as wind energy technicians;(v)in the support of all parts of the wind energy supply chain; and(vi)in other areas relating to the wind energy industry;(C)in the cybersecurity sector of the energy industry, careers in—(i)cybersecurity preparedness;(ii)cyber incident response and recovery;(iii)grid modernization, security, and maintenance;(iv)resilience planning; and(v)other areas relating to the cybersecurity sector of the energy industry;(D)careers in other low-carbon emissions sectors or zero-emissions sectors of the energy industry identified by the Secretary; and(E)careers in sectors that plan, develop, construct, maintain, and expand energy industry infrastructure.(2)

Program requirements

(A)

In general

In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall ensure that the courses described in paragraph (1)—(i)provide—(I)job training;(II)employment skills training, including providing comprehensive wraparound support services to eligible participants that—(aa)enhance the training experience and promote the professional development of eligible participants; and(bb)help eligible participants transition into the workforce; and(III)opportunities for internships of not longer than 180 days; and(ii)are carried out primarily through—(I)internships; or(II)applied, work-based training.(B)

Exam requirement

As a requirement for completing a course described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall require each eligible participant in the course to earn an applicable industry-recognized entry-level certificate or other credential.(e)

Recognition of entities

The Secretary and the administrator of the program appointed under subsection (c)(2), working jointly, shall establish and carry out a program to recognize commercial entities that hire eligible participants who receive certifications or other credentials under the program, based on the proportion that—(1)the number of such eligible participants hired by the commercial entity; bears to(2)the number of such eligible participants hired by all commercial entities.(f)

Establishment of industry-Recognized certification and training programs

(1)

In general

For purposes of subsection (d), if an appropriate industry-recognized certification and training program does not exist, the Secretary shall establish a grant program to assist the industry in developing such an industry-recognized certification and training program.(2)

Funding

Out of the amounts made available under subsection (g)(1), the Secretary shall use such sums as are necessary to carry out paragraph (1).(g)

Funding

(1)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.(2)

Allocation of funding

(A)

In general

Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall allocate to each facility of the Department of Defense participating in the program an amount based on a percentage of how many participants enroll in courses at the facility.(B)

Applications

A facility of the Department of Defense participating in the program and desiring funding under subparagraph (A) shall annually submit an application for such funding.(h)

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date on which the program is established, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing the activities carried out under, and accomplishments of, the program.