[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1275 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1275
To establish a Financing Energy Efficient Manufacturing Program in the
Department of Energy to provide financial assistance to promote energy
efficiency and onsite renewable technologies in manufacturing and
industrial facilities.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 11, 2015
Mr. Merkley introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a Financing Energy Efficient Manufacturing Program in the
Department of Energy to provide financial assistance to promote energy
efficiency and onsite renewable technologies in manufacturing and
industrial facilities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Job Creation through Energy
Efficient Manufacturing Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to encourage widespread deployment of
energy efficiency and onsite renewable energy technologies in
manufacturing and industrial facilities throughout the United States
through the establishment of a Financing Energy Efficient Manufacturing
Program that would--
(1) encourage the widespread availability of financial
products and programs with attractive rates and terms that
significantly reduce or eliminate upfront expenses to allow
manufacturing and industrial businesses to invest in energy
efficiency measures, onsite clean and renewable energy systems,
smart grid systems, and alternative vehicle fleets by providing
credit support, credit enhancement, secondary markets, and
other support to originators of the financial products and
sponsors of the financing programs; and
(2) help building owners to invest in measures and systems
that reduce energy costs, in many cases creating a net cost
savings that can be realized in the short-term, and may also
allow manufacturing and industrial business owners to defer
capital expenditures, save money to hire new workers, and
increase the value, comfort, and sustainability of the property
of the owners.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Covered program.--The term ``covered program'' means a
program to finance energy efficiency retrofit, onsite clean and
renewable energy, smart grid, and alternative vehicle fleet
projects for industrial businesses.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(3) State.--The 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.
SEC. 4. FINANCING ENERGY EFFICIENT MANUFACTURING PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program, to be
known as the ``Financing Energy Efficient Manufacturing Program'',
under which the Secretary shall provide grants to States to establish
or expand covered programs.
(b) Applications.--
(1) In general.--A State may apply to the Secretary for a
grant under subsection (a) to establish or expand covered
programs.
(2) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall evaluate applications
submitted by States under paragraph (1) on the basis of--
(A) the likelihood that the covered program would--
(i) be established or expanded; and
(ii) increase the total investment and
energy savings of retrofit projects to be
supported;
(B) in the case of industrial business efficiency
financing initiatives conducted under subsection (c),
evidence of multistate cooperation and coordination
with lenders, financiers, and owners; and
(C) other factors that would advance the purposes
of this Act, as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Multistate Facilitation.--The Secretary shall consult with
States and relevant stakeholders with applicable expertise to establish
a process to identify financing opportunities for manufacturing and
industrial business with asset portfolios across multiple States.
(d) Administration.--A State receiving a grant under subsection (a)
shall give a higher priority to covered programs that--
(1) leverage private and non-Federal sources of funding;
and
(2) aim explicitly to expand the use of energy efficiency
project financing using private sources of funding.
(e) Davis-Bacon Compliance.--
(1) In general.--All laborers and mechanics employed on
projects funded directly by or assisted in whole or in part by
this Act 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
subchapter IV of chapter 31 of part A of subtitle II of title
40, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Davis-
Bacon Act'').
(2) Authority.--With respect to the labor standards
specified in this subsection, the Secretary of Labor shall have
the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan
Numbered 14 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section
3145 of title 40, United States Code.
(f) Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
receipt of a grant under this Act, a State shall submit to the
Secretary, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House
of Representatives a report that describes the performance of
covered programs carried out using the grant funds.
(2) Data.--
(A) In general.--A State receiving a grant under
this Act, in cooperation with the Secretary, shall--
(i) collect and share data resulting from
covered programs carried out under this Act;
and
(ii) include in the report submitted under
paragraph (1) any data collected under clause
(i).
(B) Department databases.--The Secretary shall
incorporate data described in subparagraph (A) into
appropriate databases of the Department of Energy, with
provisions for the protection of confidential business
data.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this Act $250,000,000, to remain available until expended.
(b) State Energy Offices.--Funds provided to a State under this Act
shall be provided to the office within the State that is responsible
for developing the State energy plan for the State under part D of
title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321 et
seq).
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