View all text of Part A [§ 18711 - § 18713]
§ 18712. Electric grid reliability and resilience research, development, and demonstration
(a) Definition of Federal financial assistance
(b) Energy infrastructure Federal financial assistance program
(1) DefinitionsIn this subsection:
(A) Eligible entityThe term “eligible entity” means each of—
(i) a State;
(ii) a combination of 2 or more States;
(iii) an Indian Tribe;
(iv) a unit of local government; and
(v) a public utility commission.
(B) Program
(2) Establishment
(3) PurposeThe purpose of the program is to coordinate and collaborate with electric sector owners and operators—
(A) to demonstrate innovative approaches to transmission, storage, and distribution infrastructure to harden and enhance resilience and reliability; and
(B) to demonstrate new approaches to enhance regional grid resilience, implemented through States by public and rural electric cooperative entities on a cost-shared basis.
(4) ApplicationsTo be eligible to receive Federal financial assistance under the program, 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, including a description of—
(A) how the Federal financial assistance would be used;
(B) the expected beneficiaries, and
(C) in the case of a proposal from an eligible entity described in paragraph (1)(A)(ii), how the proposal would improve regional energy infrastructure.
(5) Selection
(6) Cost share
(7) Authorization of appropriations
(c) Energy improvement in rural or remote areas
(1) Definition of rural or remote area
(2) Required activitiesThe Secretary shall carry out activities to improve in rural or remote areas of the United States—
(A) the resilience, safety, reliability, and availability of energy; and
(B) environmental protection from adverse impacts of energy generation.
(3) Federal financial assistanceThe Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, may provide Federal financial assistance to rural or remote areas for the purpose of—
(A) overall cost-effectiveness of energy generation, transmission, or distribution systems;
(B) siting or upgrading transmission and distribution lines;
(C) reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation by rural or remote areas;
(D) providing or modernizing electric generation facilities;
(E) developing microgrids; and
(F) increasing energy efficiency.
(4) Authorization of appropriations
(d) Energy infrastructure resilience framework
(1) In general
(2) Assessment and report
(A) AssessmentThe Secretary shall carry out an assessment of—
(i) with respect to the inventory of high-voltage recovery transformers, new transformers, and other equipment proposed to be developed and stored under paragraph (1)—(I) the policies, technical specifications, and logistical and program structures necessary to mitigate the risks associated with the loss of high-voltage recovery transformers;(II) the technical specifications for high-voltage recovery transformers;(III) where inventory of high-voltage recovery transformers should be stored;(IV) the quantity of high-voltage recovery transformers necessary for the inventory;(V) how the stored inventory of high-voltage recovery transformers would be secured and maintained;(VI) how the high-voltage recovery transformers may be transported;(VII) opportunities for developing new flexible advanced transformer designs; and(VIII) whether new Federal regulations or cost-sharing requirements are necessary to carry out the storage of high-voltage recovery transformers; and
(ii) any efforts carried out by industry as of the date of the assessment—(I) to share transformers and equipment;(II) to develop plans for next generation transformers; and(III) to plan for surge and long-term manufacturing of, and long-term standardization of, transformer designs.
(B) Protection of information
(C) Report
(Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title I, § 40103, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 928.)