Collapse to view only § 17154. Use of funds
- § 17151. Definitions
- § 17152. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program
- § 17153. Allocation of funds
- § 17154. Use of funds
- § 17155. Requirements for eligible entities
- § 17156. Competitive grants
- § 17157. Review and evaluation
- § 17158. Funding
§ 17151. DefinitionsIn this part:
(1) Eligible entityThe term “eligible entity” means—
(A) a State;
(B) an eligible unit of local government; and
(C) an Indian tribe.
(2) Eligible unit of local governmentThe term “eligible unit of local government” means—
(A) an eligible unit of local government-alternative 1; and
(B) an eligible unit of local government-alternative 2.
(3)
(A) Eligible unit of local government-alternative 1The term “eligible unit of local government-alternative 1” means—
(i) a city with a population—(I) of at least 35,000; or(II) that causes the city to be 1 of the 10 highest-populated cities of the State in which the city is located; and
(ii) a county with a population—(I) of at least 200,000; or(II) that causes the county to be 1 of the 10 highest-populated counties of the State in which the county is located.
(B) Eligible unit of local government-alternative 2The term “eligible unit of local government-alternative 2” means—
(i) a city with a population of at least 50,000; or
(ii) a county with a population of at least 200,000.
(4) Indian tribe
(5) Program
(6) StateThe term “State” means—
(A) a State;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
(D) any other territory or possession of the United States.
(Pub. L. 110–140, title V, § 541, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1667.)
§ 17152. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program
(a) Establishment
(b) PurposeThe purpose of the program shall be to assist eligible entities in implementing strategies—
(1) to reduce fossil fuel emissions created as a result of activities within the jurisdictions of eligible entities in a manner that—
(A) is environmentally sustainable; and
(B) to the maximum extent practicable, maximizes benefits for local and regional communities;
(2) to reduce the total energy use of the eligible entities; and
(3) to improve energy efficiency in—
(A) the transportation sector;
(B) the building sector; and
(C) other appropriate sectors.
(Pub. L. 110–140, title V, § 542, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1668.)
§ 17153. Allocation of funds
(a) In generalOf amounts made available to provide grants under this part for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall allocate—
(1) 34 percent to eligible units of local government—alternative 1, in accordance with subsection (b);
(2) 34 percent to eligible units of local government—alternative 2, in accordance with subsection (b);
(3) 28 percent to States in accordance with subsection (c);
(4) 2 percent to Indian tribes in accordance with subsection (d); and
(5) 2 percent for competitive grants under section 17156 of this title.
(b) Eligible units of local governmentOf amounts available for distribution to eligible units of local government under subsection (a)(1) or (2), the Secretary shall provide grants to eligible units of local government under this section based on a formula established by the Secretary according to—
(1) the populations served by the eligible units of local government, according to the latest available decennial census; and
(2) the daytime populations of the eligible units of local government and other similar factors (such as square footage of commercial, office, and industrial space), as determined by the Secretary.
(c) StatesOf amounts available for distribution to States under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall provide—
(1) not less than 1.25 percent to each State; and
(2) the remainder among the States, based on a formula to be established by the Secretary that takes into account—
(A) the population of each State; and
(B) any other criteria that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(d) Indian tribes
(e) Publication of allocation formulas
(f) State and local advisory committee
(Pub. L. 110–140, title V, § 543, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1668; Pub. L. 111–5, div. A, title IV, § 404(a), (b), Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 143.)
§ 17154. Use of fundsAn eligible entity may use a grant received under this part to carry out activities to achieve the purposes of the program, including—
(1) development and implementation of an energy efficiency and conservation strategy under section 17155(b) of this title;
(2) retaining technical consultant services to assist the eligible entity in the development of such a strategy, including—
(A) formulation of energy efficiency, energy conservation, and energy usage goals;
(B) identification of strategies to achieve those goals—
(i) through efforts to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption; and
(ii) by encouraging behavioral changes among the population served by the eligible entity;
(C) development of methods to measure progress in achieving the goals;
(D) development and publication of annual reports to the population served by the eligible entity describing—
(i) the strategies and goals; and
(ii) the progress made in achieving the strategies and goals during the preceding calendar year; and
(E) other services to assist in the implementation of the energy efficiency and conservation strategy;
(3) conducting residential and commercial building energy audits;
(4) establishment of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements;
(5) the provision of grants to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies for the purpose of performing energy efficiency retrofits;
(6) development and implementation of energy efficiency and conservation programs for buildings and facilities within the jurisdiction of the eligible entity, including—
(A) design and operation of the programs;
(B) identifying the most effective methods for achieving maximum participation and efficiency rates;
(C) public education;
(D) measurement and verification protocols; and
(E) identification of energy efficient technologies;
(7) development and implementation of programs to conserve energy used in transportation, including—
(A) use of flex time by employers;
(B) satellite work centers;
(C) development and promotion of zoning guidelines or requirements that promote energy efficient development;
(D) development of infrastructure, such as bike lanes and pathways and pedestrian walkways;
(E) synchronization of traffic signals; and
(F) other measures that increase energy efficiency and decrease energy consumption;
(8) development and implementation of building codes and inspection services to promote building energy efficiency;
(9) application and implementation of energy distribution technologies that significantly increase energy efficiency, including—
(A) distributed resources; and
(B) district heating and cooling systems;
(10) activities to increase participation and efficiency rates for material conservation programs, including source reduction, recycling, and recycled span procurement programs that lead to increases in energy efficiency;
(11) the purchase and implementation of technologies to reduce, capture, and, to the maximum extent practicable, use methane and other greenhouse gases generated by landfills or similar sources;
(12) replacement of traffic signals and street lighting with energy efficient lighting technologies, including—
(A) light emitting diodes; and
(B) any other technology of equal or greater energy efficiency;
(13) development, implementation, and installation on or in any government building of the eligible entity of onsite renewable energy technology that generates electricity from renewable resources, including—
(A) solar energy;
(B) wind energy;
(C) fuel cells; and
(D) biomass;
(14) programs for financing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and zero-emission transportation (and associated infrastructure), capital investments, projects, and programs, which may include loan programs and performance contracting programs, for leveraging of additional public and private sector funds, and programs that allow rebates, grants, or other incentives for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and zero-emission transportation (and associated infrastructure) measures; and
(15) any other appropriate activity, as determined by the Secretary, in consultation with—
(A) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
(B) the Secretary of Transportation; and
(C) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(Pub. L. 110–140, title V, § 544, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1669; Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title V, § 40552(a), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1076.)
§ 17155. Requirements for eligible entities
(a) Construction requirement
(1) In general
(2) Secretary of LaborWith respect to the labor standards referred to in paragraph (1), the Secretary of Labor shall have the authority and functions described in—
(A) Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (5 U.S.C. 903 note); 1
1 See References in Text note below.
and(B)section 3145 of title 40.
(b) Eligible units of local government and Indian tribes
(1) Proposed strategy
(A) In general
(B) InclusionsThe proposed strategy under subparagraph (A) shall include—
(i) a description of the goals of the eligible unit of local government or Indian tribe, in accordance with the purposes of this part, for increased energy efficiency and conservation in the jurisdiction of the eligible unit of local government or Indian tribe; and
(ii) a plan for the use of the grant to assist the eligible unit of local government or Indian tribe in achieving those goals, in accordance with section 17154 of this title.
(C) Requirements for eligible units of local governmentIn developing the strategy under subparagraph (A), an eligible unit of local government shall—
(i) take into account any plans for the use of funds by adjacent eligible units of local governments that receive grants under the program; and
(ii) coordinate and share information with the State in which the eligible unit of local government is located regarding activities carried out using the grant to maximize the energy efficiency and conservation benefits under this part.
(2) Approval by Secretary
(A) In general
(B) DisapprovalIf the Secretary disapproves a proposed strategy under subparagraph (A)—
(i) the Secretary shall provide to the eligible unit of local government or Indian tribe the reasons for the disapproval; and
(ii) the eligible unit of local government or Indian tribe may revise and resubmit the proposed strategy as many times as necessary until the Secretary approves a proposed strategy.
(C) Requirement
(3) Limitations on use of fundsOf amounts provided to an eligible unit of local government or Indian tribe under the program, an eligible unit of local government or Indian tribe may use—
(A) for administrative expenses, excluding the cost of meeting the reporting requirements of this part, an amount equal to the greater of—
(i) 10 percent; and 2
2 So in original. Probably should be “or”.
(ii) $75,000;
(B) for the establishment of revolving loan funds, an amount equal to the greater of—
(i) 20 percent; and 2
(ii) $250,000; and
(C) for the provision of subgrants to nongovernmental organizations for the purpose of assisting in the implementation of the energy efficiency and conservation strategy of the eligible unit of local government or Indian tribe, an amount equal to the greater of—
(i) 20 percent; and 2
(ii) $250,000.
(4) Annual reportNot later than 2 years after the date on which funds are initially provided to an eligible unit of local government or Indian tribe under the program, and annually thereafter, the eligible unit of local government or Indian tribe shall submit to the Secretary a report describing—
(A) the status of development and implementation of the energy efficiency and conservation strategy of the eligible unit of local government or Indian tribe; and
(B) as practicable, an assessment of energy efficiency gains within the jurisdiction of the eligible unit of local government or Indian tribe.
(c) States
(1) Distribution of funds
(A) In general
(B) Deadline
(2) Revision of conservation plan; proposed strategyNot later than 120 days after December 19, 2007, each State shall—
(A) modify the State energy conservation plan of the State under section 6322 of this title to establish additional goals for increased energy efficiency and conservation in the State; and
(B) submit to the Secretary a proposed energy efficiency and conservation strategy that—
(i) establishes a process for providing subgrants as required under paragraph (1); and
(ii) includes a plan of the State for the use of funds received under the program to assist the State in achieving the goals established under subparagraph (A), in accordance with sections 17152(b) and 17154 of this title.
(3) Approval by Secretary
(A) In general
(B) DisapprovalIf the Secretary disapproves a proposed strategy under subparagraph (A)—
(i) the Secretary shall provide to the State the reasons for the disapproval; and
(ii) the State may revise and resubmit the proposed strategy as many times as necessary until the Secretary approves a proposed strategy.
(C) Requirement
(4) Limitations on use of funds
(5) Annual reportsEach State that receives a grant under the program shall submit to the Secretary an annual report that describes—
(A) the status of development and implementation of the energy efficiency and conservation strategy of the State during the preceding calendar year;
(B) the status of the subgrant program of the State under paragraph (1);
(C) the energy efficiency gains achieved through the energy efficiency and conservation strategy of the State during the preceding calendar year; and
(D) specific energy efficiency and conservation goals of the State for subsequent calendar years.
(Pub. L. 110–140, title V, § 545, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1670.)
§ 17156. Competitive grants
(a) In general
Of the total amount made available for each fiscal year to carry out this part, the Secretary shall use not less than 2 percent to provide grants under this section, on a competitive basis, to—
(1) units of local government (including Indian tribes) that are not eligible entities; and
(2) consortia of units of local government described in paragraph (1).
(b) Applications
(c) Priority
In providing grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to units of local government—
(1) located in States with populations of less than 2,000,000; or
(2) that plan to carry out projects that would result in significant energy efficiency improvements or reductions in fossil fuel use.
(Pub. L. 110–140, title V, § 546, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1673.)
§ 17157. Review and evaluation
(a) In general
(b) Withholding of funds
The Secretary may withhold from an eligible entity any portion of a grant to be provided to the eligible entity under the program if the Secretary determines that the eligible entity has failed to achieve compliance with—
(1) any applicable guideline or regulation of the Secretary relating to the program, including the misuse or misappropriation of funds provided under the program; or
(2) the energy efficiency and conservation strategy of the eligible entity.
(Pub. L. 110–140, title V, § 547, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1674.)
§ 17158. Funding
(a) Authorization of appropriations
(1) Grants
(2) Administrative costs
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for administrative expenses of the program—
(A) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009;
(B) $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 and 2011; and
(C) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
(b) Maintenance of funding
The funding provided under this section shall supplement (and not supplant) other Federal funding provided under—
(1) a State energy conservation plan established under part D of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.); or
(2) the Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons established under part A of title IV of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6861 et seq.).
(Pub. L. 110–140, title V, § 548, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1674; Pub. L. 111–5, div. A, title IV, § 404(c), Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 143.)