117 HR 7384 IH: Energy Conservation Opportunities on Campus Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2022-04-04
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I
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7384
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 4, 2022
Mr. Lynch (for himself, Mr. Keating, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Ms. Jacobs of California, Ms. DeGette, Mr. McEachin, Mr. Casten, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Gomez, Mr. Sires, Mr. Neal, and Mr. Bowman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program to support energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience improvements at certain institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Energy Conservation Opportunities on Campus Act” or the “ECO Campus Act”.
2.

Grants for universities
(a)

Establishment of grant program
Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall establish a program to award, on a competitive basis to covered universities, grants to support energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience improvements at such universities.
(b)

Applications
To be eligible to receive a grant under the Program, a covered university shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(c)

Special considerations
In awarding grants under the Program, the Secretary shall—
(1)
give priority to covered universities that are minority-serving institutions; and
(2)
award grants in a manner that ensures geographically diverse recipients.
(d)

Eligible uses
A grant awarded to a covered university under the Program may be used for the following projects on the campus of such university:
(1)
The purchase and installation of solar panels.
(2)
The purchase, or contracting for use, of electric vehicles.
(3)
The purchase and installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
(4)
The purchase and installation of energy-efficient windows.
(5)
Construction, repairs, or renovations to buildings to improve occupant health, including construction, repairs, or renovations that improve air quality or ventilation.
(6)
Construction, repairs, or renovations to buildings to improve climate resilience.
(7)
Investigation and analysis with respect to energy efficiency and climate resilience improvements.
(8)
The purchase and installation of microgrid systems.
(9)
The purchase and installation of energy storage systems.
(10)
Repairs or renovations to district energy systems.
(e)

Limitations
(1)

Maximum grant amount
A grant awarded under the Program may not exceed $10,000,000.
(2)

Training costs
A covered university awarded a grant under the Program may use not more than ten percent of grant funds for training costs related to a project carried out with grant funds.
(f)

Reporting
Not later than three years after the date on which a covered university receives a grant under the Program, the university shall submit to the Secretary a report detailing the use of grant funds.
(g)

Definitions
In this section:
(1)

Climate resilience
The term climate resilience means the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to hazardous events, trends, or disturbances related to climate.
(2)

Covered university
The term covered university means the following:
(A)
A public institution of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(B)
A public Tribal college or university, as defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act.
(C)
A public institution of higher education located in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(3)

Energy storage system
The term energy storage system means any system, equipment, facility, or technology that uses a mechanical, electrical, chemical, electrochemical, or thermal process to store energy that was generated at an earlier time for use at a later time, including any generated energy that would otherwise be wasted.
(4)

Microgrid system
The term microgrid system means an integrated energy system that consists of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that—
(A)
acts as a single controllable entity; and
(B)
can operate while connected to, and while disconnected from, the national or local electric grid.
(5)

Minority-serving institution
The term minority-serving institution means an institution described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
(6)

Program
The term Program means the grant program established under subsection (a).
(h)

Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $76,100,000,000.