§ 18715a — Grants To Facilitate The Siting Of Interstate Electricity Transmission Lines

(a) In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2022, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $760,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2029, for making grants in accordance with this section and for administrative expenses associated with carrying out this section. (1) The Secretary may make a grant under this section to a siting authority for, with respect to a covered transmission project, any of the following activities: (A) Studies and analyses of the impacts of the covered transmission project. (B) Examination of up to 3 alternate siting corridors within which the covered transmission project feasibly could be sited. (C) Participation by the siting authority in regulatory proceedings or negotiations in another jurisdiction, or under the auspices of a Transmission Organization (as defined in section 796 of title 16) that is also considering the siting or permitting of the covered transmission project. (D) Participation by the siting authority in regulatory proceedings at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or a State regulatory commission for determining applicable rates and cost allocation for the covered transmission project. (E) Other measures and actions that may improve the chances of, and shorten the time required for, approval by the siting authority of the application relating to the siting or permitting of the covered transmission project, as the Secretary determines appropriate. (2) The Secretary may make a grant under this section to a siting authority, or other State, local, or Tribal governmental entity, for economic development activities for communities that may be affected by the construction and operation of a covered transmission project, provided that the Secretary shall not enter into any grant agreement pursuant to this section that could result in any outlays after September 30, 2031. (1) In order to receive a grant for an activity described in subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall require a siting authority to agree, in writing, to reach a final decision on the application relating to the siting or permitting of the applicable covered transmission project not later than 2 years after the date on which such grant is provided, unless the Secretary authorizes an extension for good cause. (2) The Federal share of the cost of an activity described in subparagraph (C) or (D) of subsection (b)(1) shall not exceed 50 percent. (3) The Secretary may only disburse grant funds for economic development activities under subsection (b)(2)— (A) to a siting authority upon approval by the siting authority of the applicable covered transmission project; and (B) to any other State, local, or Tribal governmental entity upon commencement of construction of the applicable covered transmission project in the area under the jurisdiction of the entity. (d) If a siting authority that receives a grant for an activity described in subsection (b)(1) fails to use all grant funds within 2 years of receipt, the siting authority shall return to the Secretary any such unused funds. (e) In this section: (1) The term “covered transmission project” means a high-voltage interstate or offshore electricity transmission line— (A) that is proposed to be constructed and to operate— (i) at a minimum of 275 kilovolts of either alternating-current or direct-current electric energy by an entity; or (ii) offshore and at a minimum of 200 kilovolts of either alternating-current or direct-current electric energy by an entity; and (B) for which such entity has applied, or informed a siting authority of such entity’s intent to apply, for regulatory approval. (2) The term “siting authority” means a State, local, or Tribal governmental entity with authority to make a final determination regarding the siting, permitting, or regulatory status of a covered transmission project that is proposed to be located in an area under the jurisdiction of the entity.