[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 523 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 523
To coordinate the provision of energy retrofitting assistance to
schools.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 12, 2015
Ms. Collins (for herself, Mr. Warner, Ms. Ayotte, and Mr. Merkley)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To coordinate the provision of energy retrofitting assistance to
schools.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. COORDINATION OF ENERGY RETROFITTING ASSISTANCE FOR SCHOOLS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) School.--The term ``school'' means--
(A) an elementary school or secondary school (as
defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801));
(B) an institution of higher education (as defined
in section 102(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1002(a));
(C) a school of the defense dependents' education
system under the Defense Dependents' Education Act of
1978 (20 U.S.C. 921 et seq.) or established under
section 2164 of title 10, United States Code;
(D) a school operated by the Bureau of Indian
Affairs;
(E) a tribally controlled school (as defined in
section 5212 of the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of
1988 (25 U.S.C. 2511)); and
(F) a Tribal College or University (as defined in
section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1059c(b))).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(b) Designation of Lead Agency.--The Secretary, acting through the
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, shall act as the lead
Federal agency for coordinating and disseminating information on
existing Federal programs and assistance that may be used to help
initiate, develop, and finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and
energy retrofitting projects for schools.
(c) Requirements.--In carrying out coordination and outreach under
subsection (b), the Secretary shall--
(1) in consultation and coordination with the appropriate
Federal agencies, carry out a review of existing programs and
financing mechanisms (including revolving loan funds and loan
guarantees) available in or from the Department of Agriculture,
the Department of Energy, the Department of Education, the
Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, the
Environmental Protection Agency, and other appropriate Federal
agencies with jurisdiction over energy financing and
facilitation that are currently used or may be used to help
initiate, develop, and finance energy efficiency, renewable
energy, and energy retrofitting projects for schools;
(2) establish a Federal cross-departmental collaborative
coordination, education, and outreach effort to streamline
communication and promote available Federal opportunities and
assistance described in paragraph (1) for energy efficiency,
renewable energy, and energy retrofitting projects that enables
States, local educational agencies, and schools--
(A) to use existing Federal opportunities more
effectively; and
(B) to form partnerships with Governors, State
energy programs, local educational, financial, and
energy officials, State and local government officials,
nonprofit organizations, and other appropriate entities
to support the initiation of the projects;
(3) provide technical assistance for States, local
educational agencies, and schools to help develop and finance
energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy retrofitting
projects--
(A) to increase the energy efficiency of buildings
or facilities;
(B) to install systems that individually generate
energy from renewable energy resources;
(C) to establish partnerships to leverage economies
of scale and additional financing mechanisms available
to larger clean energy initiatives; or
(D) to promote--
(i) the maintenance of health,
environmental quality, and safety in schools,
including the ambient air quality, through
energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy
retrofit projects; and
(ii) the achievement of expected energy
savings and renewable energy production through
proper operations and maintenance practices;
(4) develop and maintain a single online resource website
with contact information for relevant technical assistance and
support staff in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy for States, local educational agencies, and schools to
effectively access and use Federal opportunities and assistance
described in paragraph (1) to develop energy efficiency,
renewable energy, and energy retrofitting projects; and
(5) establish a process for recognition of schools that--
(A) have successfully implemented energy
efficiency, renewable energy, and energy retrofitting
projects; and
(B) are willing to serve as resources for other
local educational agencies and schools to assist
initiation of similar efforts.
(d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing
the implementation of this section.
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