[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 17 (Thursday, January 28, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3111. Mr. FRANKEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 2953 proposed by Ms. Murkowski to the bill S. 2012, to 
provide for the modernization of the energy policy of the United 
States, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       In section 2301, strike subsection (c) and insert the 
     following:
       (c) Technical Assistance and Grant Program.--
       (1) Establishment.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Assistant Secretary for Electricity Delivery and Energy 
     Reliability, shall establish a technical assistance and grant 
     program (referred to in this subsection as the ``program'')--
       (i) to disseminate information and provide technical 
     assistance directly to eligible entities so the eligible 
     entities can identify, evaluate, plan, and design energy 
     storage systems; and
       (ii) to make grants to eligible entities so that the 
     eligible entities may contract to obtain technical assistance 
     to identify, evaluate, plan, and design energy storage 
     systems.
       (B) Technical assistance.--The technical assistance 
     described in subparagraph (A) shall include assistance with 1 
     or more of the following activities relating to energy 
     storage systems:
       (i) Identification of opportunities to use energy storage 
     systems.
       (ii) Assessment of technical and economic characteristics.
       (iii) Utility interconnection.
       (iv) Permitting and siting issues.
       (v) Business planning and financial analysis.
       (vi) Engineering design.
       (C) Information dissemination.--The information 
     disseminated under subparagraph (A)(i) shall include--
       (i) information relating to the topics described in 
     subparagraph (B), including case studies of successful 
     examples;
       (ii) computer software for assessment, design, and 
     operation and maintenance of energy storage systems; and
       (iii) public databases that track the operation and 
     deployment of existing and planned energy storage systems.
       (2) Eligibility.--Any nonprofit or for-profit entity shall 
     be eligible to receive technical assistance and grants under 
     the program.
       (3) Applications.--
       (A) In general.--An eligible entity desiring technical 
     assistance or grants under the program shall submit to the 
     Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and 
     containing such information as the Secretary may require.
       (B) Application process.--The Secretary shall seek 
     applications for technical assistance and grants under the 
     program--
       (i) on a competitive basis; and
       (ii) on a periodic basis, but not less frequently than once 
     every 12 months.
       (C) Priorities.--In selecting eligible entities for 
     technical assistance and grants under the program, the 
     Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities with 
     projects that have the greatest potential for--
       (i) facilitating the use of renewable energy resources;
       (ii) strengthening the reliability and resiliency of energy 
     infrastructure to the impact of extreme weather events, power 
     grid failures, and interruptions in supply of fossil fuels;
       (iii) improving the feasibility of microgrids or islanding, 
     particularly in rural areas, including high energy cost rural 
     areas;
       (iv) minimizing environmental impact, including regulated 
     air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions; and
       (v) maximizing local job creation.
       (4) Grants.--On application by an eligible entity, the 
     Secretary may award grants to the eligible entity to provide 
     funds to cover not more than--
       (A) 100 percent of the costs of the initial assessment to 
     identify energy storage system opportunities;
       (B) 75 percent of the cost of feasibility studies to assess 
     the potential for the implementation of energy storage 
     systems;
       (C) 60 percent of the cost of guidance on overcoming 
     barriers to the implementation of energy storage systems, 
     including financial, contracting, siting, and permitting 
     issues; and
       (D) 45 percent of the cost of detailed engineering of 
     energy storage systems.
       (5) Rules and procedures.--
       (A) Rules.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall adopt rules and 
     procedures for carrying out the program.
       (B) Grants.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     issuance of the rules and procedures for the program, the 
     Secretary shall issue grants under this subsection.
       (6) Reports.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress and 
     make available to the public--
       (A) not less frequently than once every 2 years, a report 
     describing the performance of the program under this 
     subsection; and
       (B) on termination of the program under this subsection, an 
     assessment of the success of, and education provided by, the 
     measures carried out by eligible entities under the program.
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