[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1782 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1782
To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program to
facilitate tree planting that reduces residential energy consumption,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 20, 2021
Mr. Booker (for himself and Mrs. Capito) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program to
facilitate tree planting that reduces residential energy consumption,
and for other purposes.
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 ``Trees for Residential Energy and
Economic Savings Act of 2021'' or the ``TREES Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. TREE PLANTING GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered project.--The term ``covered project'' means a
tree planting project that reduces residential energy
consumption.
(2) Eligible cost.--The term ``eligible cost'' means, with
respect to a covered project--
(A) the cost of carrying out the project,
including--
(i) planning and design activities;
(ii) establishing nurseries to supply
trees;
(iii) purchasing trees; and
(iv) preparing sites and planting trees;
(B) the cost of maintaining and monitoring trees
planted under the project for a period of not more than
3 years;
(C) the cost of training activities; and
(D) any other cost determined appropriate by the
Secretary.
(3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a State government entity;
(B) a local government entity;
(C) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
(25 U.S.C. 5304));
(D) a nonprofit organization; and
(E) a retail power provider.
(4) Energy burden.--The term ``energy burden'' means the
percentage of household income spent on residential energy
bills.
(5) Local government entity.--The term ``local government
entity'' means any municipal government or county government
entity with jurisdiction over local land use decisions.
(6) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit
organization'' means an organization described in section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from
taxation under section 501(a) of that Code.
(7) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the program
established under subsection (b).
(8) Retail power provider.--The term ``retail power
provider'' means any entity authorized under State or Federal
law to generate, distribute, or provide retail electricity,
natural gas, or fuel oil service.
(9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(b) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program under
which the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to
facilitate covered projects in accordance with this section.
(c) Consultation.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall
consult with the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of
the Forest Service.
(d) Applications.--To receive a grant under the Program, an
eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require, including, with respect to the proposed covered project, a
description of--
(1) how the covered project will reduce residential energy
consumption and the expected reduction in residential energy
consumption;
(2) the total eligible costs of the covered project and
other sources of funding for the covered project;
(3) the anticipated community engagement in the covered
project; and
(4) the tree species to be planted under the covered
project and the suitability of those species to the local
environment.
(e) Priority.--In awarding grants under the Program, the Secretary
shall give priority to eligible entities that propose covered projects
that--
(1) provide the largest potential reduction in residential
energy consumption for households with a high energy burden;
(2) provide maximum amounts of--
(A) shade during periods when residences are
exposed to the most sun intensity; and
(B) wind protection during periods when residences
are exposed to the most wind intensity;
(3) are located in a neighborhood with a low percentage of
tree canopy cover;
(4) are located in a neighborhood with a high percentage of
senior citizens or children;
(5) are located in an area where the average annual income
is below the regional median;
(6) will collaboratively engage community members that will
be affected by the tree planting; and
(7) will employ local residents as a substantial percentage
of the workforce of the covered project, with a focus on local
residents who are unemployed or underemployed.
(f) Tree Planting Goals.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable,
award grants under the Program in a manner that facilitates the
planting of at least 300,000 trees each year.
(g) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a covered
project carried out using a grant awarded under the Program shall be 90
percent.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the Program $50,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.
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