§ 6371h–1 — Energy Sustainability And Efficiency Grants And Loans For Institutions

(a) In this section: (1) The term “combined heat and power” means the generation of electric energy and heat in a single, integrated system, with an overall thermal efficiency of 60 percent or greater on a higher-heating-value basis. (2) The term “district energy systems” means systems providing thermal energy from a renewable energy source, thermal energy source, or highly efficient technology to more than 1 building or fixed energy-consuming use from 1 or more thermal-energy production facilities through pipes or other means to provide space heating, space conditioning, hot water, steam, compression, process energy, or other end uses for that energy. (3) The term “energy sustainability” includes using a renewable energy source, thermal energy source, or a highly efficient technology for transportation, electricity generation, heating, cooling, lighting, or other energy services in fixed installations. (4) The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given the term in section 15801 of this title. (5) The term “institutional entity” means an institution of higher education, a public school district, a local government, a municipal utility, or a designee of 1 of those entities. (6) The term “renewable energy source” has the meaning given the term in section 918c of title 7. (7) The term “sustainable energy infrastructure” means— (A) facilities for production of energy from renewable energy sources, thermal energy sources, or highly efficient technologies, including combined heat and power or other waste heat use; and (B) district energy systems. (8) The term “thermal energy source” means— (A) a natural source of cooling or heating from lake or ocean water; and (B) recovery of useful energy that would otherwise be wasted from ongoing energy uses. (1) Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Secretary shall implement a program of information dissemination and technical assistance to institutional entities to assist the institutional entities in identifying, evaluating, designing, and implementing sustainable energy infrastructure projects in energy sustainability. (2) The Secretary shall support institutional entities in— (A) identification of opportunities for sustainable energy infrastructure; (B) understanding the technical and economic characteristics of sustainable energy infrastructure; (C) utility interconnection and negotiation of power and fuel contracts; (D) understanding financing alternatives; (E) permitting and siting issues; (F) obtaining case studies of similar and successful sustainable energy infrastructure systems; and (G) reviewing and obtaining computer software for assessment, design, and operation and maintenance of sustainable energy infrastructure systems. (3) On receipt of an application of an institutional entity, the Secretary may make grants to the institutional entity to fund a portion of the cost of— (A) feasibility studies to assess the potential for implementation or improvement of sustainable energy infrastructure; (B) analysis and implementation of strategies to overcome barriers to project implementation, including financial, contracting, siting, and permitting barriers; and (C) detailed engineering of sustainable energy infrastructure. (A) The Secretary shall award grants to institutional entities to carry out projects to improve energy efficiency on the grounds and facilities of the institutional entity. (B) To the extent that applications have been submitted, grants under subparagraph (A) shall include not less than 1 grant each year to an institution of higher education in each State. (C) Not less than 50 percent of the total funding for all grants under this subsection shall be awarded in grants to institutions of higher education. (2) Evaluation of projects for grant funding shall be based on criteria established by the Secretary, including criteria relating to— (A) improvement in energy efficiency; (B) reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and other air emissions, including criteria air pollutants and ozone-depleting refrigerants; (C) increased use of renewable energy sources or thermal energy sources; (D) reduction in consumption of fossil fuels; (E) active student participation; and (F) need for funding assistance. (3) As a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, an institutional entity shall agree— (A) to implement a public awareness campaign concerning the project in the community in which the institutional entity is located; and (B) to submit to the Secretary, and make available to the public, reports on any efficiency improvements, energy cost savings, and environmental benefits achieved as part of a project carried out under paragraph (1), including quantification of the results relative to the criteria described under paragraph (2). (A) The Secretary shall award grants to institutional entities to engage in innovative energy sustainability projects. (B) To the extent that applications have been submitted, grants under subparagraph (A) shall include not less than 2 grants each year to institutions of higher education in each State. (C) Not less than 50 percent of the total funding for all grants under this subsection shall be awarded in grants to institutions of higher education. (2) An innovation project carried out with a grant under this subsection shall— (A) involve— (i) an innovative technology that is not yet commercially available; or (ii) available technology in an innovative application that maximizes energy efficiency and sustainability; (B) have the greatest potential for testing or demonstrating new technologies or processes; and (C) to the extent undertaken by an institution of higher education, ensure active student participation in the project, including the planning, implementation, evaluation, and other phases of projects. (3) As a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, an institutional entity shall agree to submit to the Secretary, and make available to the public, reports that describe the results of the projects carried out using grant funds. (1) Of the total amount of grants provided to institutions of higher education for a fiscal year under this section, the Secretary shall provide not less than 50 percent of the amount to institutions of higher education that have an endowment of not more than $100,000,000. (2) To the extent that applications have been submitted, at least 50 percent of the amount described in paragraph (1) shall be provided to institutions of higher education that have an endowment of not more than $50,000,000. (1) If the Secretary determines that cost sharing is appropriate, the amounts of grants provided under this section shall be limited as provided in this subsection. (2) In the case of grants for technical assistance under subsection (b), grant funds shall be available for not more than— (A) an amount equal to the lesser of— (i) $50,000; or (ii) 75 percent of the cost of feasibility studies to assess the potential for implementation or improvement of sustainable energy infrastructure; (B) an amount equal to the lesser of— (i) $90,000; or (ii) 60 percent of the cost of guidance on overcoming barriers to project implementation, including financial, contracting, siting, and permitting barriers; and (C) an amount equal to the lesser of— (i) $250,000; or (ii) 40 percent of the cost of detailed engineering and design of sustainable energy infrastructure. (3) In the case of grants for efficiency improvement and energy sustainability under subsection (c), grant funds shall be available for not more than an amount equal to the lesser of— (A) $1,000,000; or (B) 60 percent of the total cost. (4) In the case of grants for innovation in energy sustainability under subsection (d), grant funds shall be available for not more than an amount equal to the lesser of— (A) $500,000; or (B) 75 percent of the total cost. (1) Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Secretary shall provide loans to institutional entities for the purpose of implementing energy efficiency improvements and sustainable energy infrastructure. (A) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, loans made under this subsection shall be on such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe. (B) The final maturity of loans made within a period shall be the lesser of, as determined by the Secretary— (i) 20 years; or (ii) 90 percent of the useful life of the principal physical asset to be financed by the loan. (C) No loan made under this subsection may be subordinated to another debt contracted by the institutional entity or to any other claims against the institutional entity in the case of default. (i) Loans under this subsection shall be at an interest rate that is set by reference to a benchmark interest rate (yield) on marketable Treasury securities with a similar maturity to the direct loans being made. (ii) The minimum interest rate of loans under this subsection shall be at the interest rate of the benchmark financial instrument. (iii) The minimum interest rate of new loans shall be adjusted each quarter to take account of changes in the interest rate of the benchmark financial instrument. (E) The Secretary shall— (i) prescribe explicit standards for use in periodically assessing the credit risk of making direct loans under this subsection; and (ii) find that there is a reasonable assurance of repayment before making a loan. (F) New direct loans may not be obligated under this subsection except to the extent that appropriations of budget authority to cover the costs of the new direct loans are made in advance, as required by section 661c of title 2. (3) Evaluation of projects for potential loan funding shall be based on criteria established by the Secretary, including criteria relating to— (A) improvement in energy efficiency; (B) reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and other air emissions, including criteria air pollutants and ozone-depleting refrigerants; (C) increased use of renewable electric energy sources or renewable thermal energy sources; (D) reduction in consumption of fossil fuels; and (E) need for funding assistance, including consideration of the size of endowment or other financial resources available to the institutional entity. (A) All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors in the performance of construction, repair, or alteration work funded in whole or in part under this section shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on projects of a character similar in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with sections 3141 through 3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40. The Secretary shall not approve any such funding without first obtaining adequate assurance that required labor standards will be maintained upon the construction work. (B) The Secretary of Labor shall have, with respect to the labor standards specified in paragraph (1), the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Number 14 of 1950 (15 Fed. Reg. 3176; 64 Stat. 1267) and section 3145 of title 40. (h) Not later than 180 days after December 19, 2007, the Secretary shall establish procedures for the solicitation and evaluation of potential projects for grant and loan funding and administration of the grant and loan programs. (1) There is authorized to be appropriated for the cost of grants authorized in subsections (b), (c), and (d) $250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013, of which not more than 5 percent may be used for administrative expenses. (2) There is authorized to be appropriated for the initial cost of direct loans authorized in subsection (g) $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013, of which not more than 5 percent may be used for administrative expenses.